ImprovingWorkingMemory.com

Almost everyone has heard of short term and long term memory. Working memory, however, is a newer term that has not been adopted by everyone yet. In reality, however, we use working memory every day of our lives. We depend upon it to help us get through work or through our daily chores, and if working memory is lost, it is impossible to learn anything new.

What Is Working Memory?

Working memory is very similar to short term memory - it is defined as the ability to store and use the information that is added to the brain for a short amount of time. Think of it as a virtual desk in your brain. You are allowed to put information down on that desk so that you can use it for a short time, but like all desks, eventually it has to get cleaned off so that new information can be placed on the desk.

Unlike short term memory, which is simply used to define something that you memorize and parrot back, working memory is a place where you can actually use the information that you’ve brought into your brain. For instance, if you were to see the term 100 x 5, you would be adding it to your working memory so that you could manipulate the numbers until you got your answer.

Quick Processing

Our working memory works so fast that we often don’t even realize that we’re using it. If you read a recipe that says that you need 3 eggs, you immediately know that this means you need to get three of the objects from their resting place and you remember that long enough to be able to fetch the eggs and open up the carton or container.

When you try to remember something from a long time ago, something that is stored in your long term memory, you may have to think for a moment before you can get a clear picture about what you are trying to remember. With working memory you barely know that it is working as it processes so quickly. Even if you don’t know the answer to the question, your working memory is busily sorting through tons of different options in order to try to provide you with the answer you’re seeking.

Improving Working Memory

Some people and children have a difficult time with their working memory. There are ways, however, to improve it. To being with, you need to recognize that there may be a working memory problem. Some believe that they are simply forgetful, but they do not realize that that very forgetfulness is actually due to a working memory impairment.

Improving working memory can be done in a number of ways. The most simple is to play a memory game with yourself. Using memory cards that you’ve purchased or made can help your brain to not only input the pictures or words on the cards but also to process what you’ve seen and use it to find the matching pair.
The more you work on your working memory, the easier you will find it to solve problems that occur in your life, from the benign to the more serious, as the brain will be more adept at finding the solution.