Posts Tagged → memory
Tactile memory is stronger than imagined
It is an area of brain potential that is often overlooked, but a team of German researchers say that humans' memory for different types of touches is actually extremely strong.
The Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin researchers said that individuals are capable of distinguishing between several different types of touch simultaneously and that they are capable of recalling the memories of these various types of tactile sensation quickly and accurately.
The team tested various types of touch sensations, such as the feeling of Braille on the fingers, several different frequencies of vibration and placing two fingers on the skin.
Brain scans of the participants showed that the majority of the activity in the mind took place in the frontal lobes, where much of a person's higher-order thinking takes place. This told the researchers that humans have strong control over their tactile memories.
"A new touch does not erase the memory of a previous touch from working memory. Rather, new and old tactile memories can persist independently of each another, once a person's attention has registered the touches," they wrote in their report.
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Easy ways to keeping the mind sharp
Ilchi Lee believes that brain education is an important way to making sure that one's mind stays strong. One of the best ways to enhance cognitive abilities is through brain training techniques.
AARP.org recently suggested a few techniques that could help improve memory. The first step is to start creating "memory palaces." Placing things that one wants to remember in a memorable (or strange) location can make the item itself easier to recall.
For example, the news source suggests that a shopping list may be best remembered by imagining the items on the list in curious places. For instance, envision a dancing can of soup on the front step of a house. Imagine laundry detergent poured all over the foyer and toilet paper wrapped around the door.
Another way to keep a mind sharp is to practice "chunking." This consists of breaking down hard-to-remember numbers and phrases into different segments. If one is trying the random letters VOWSELBAR, try remembering the syllables VOW-SEL-BAR instead of individual letters.
The key is to never become complacent and hitting the so-called OK Plateau. Stay conscious of each task and try to consistently improve upon it.
