ImprovingWorkingMemory.com

There are two basic types of memory: short term and long term. Long term memory is often lamented on due to the inability many people have to remember specific details about things that occurred years ago. Short term memory, however, often tends to be much more of a hassle, as it is often short term memory that we depend upon. It is what we use to remember what we need to do when we are going out for errands and how much we need to pull out of our wallet when we’re at the store. By understanding how short term memory and your brain works, you can better understand how to make it stronger.

The Brain

The brain is a complex organ with a number of different compartments in it. Each compartment is responsible for some specific function of your body, and often the compartments have to work together in order to help you do what you need to do. For instance, there is one compartment for breathing and another for walking, and we’ve all walked and breathed at the same time.

The hippocampus is the part of the brain that is the most in charge of keeping track of your short term memory. It is located in what is known as the medial temporal lobe. All humans have two hippocampi on either side of the brain. Scientists know that the hippocampus is largely responsible for short term memory due to studies they have done on people who have had their hippocampi damaged. Those who have undergone damage to the brain in that area have an exceedingly difficult time forming new memories, making it virtually impossible to remember something as simple as a shopping list. They also have a more difficult time retrieving older memories that they already have stored in their brain.

A well-known psychological patient, known only as H.M., had his hippocampus removed when he was 27 years old. He now has a difficult time remembering anything past 10 minutes. He can, however, learn how to do a task and will eventually remember it, although he will have no memory of how he learned to complete the task.

Your Hippocampus

You can tell how well developed your short term memory is simply and easily at home. One way to do it is to recruit a friend. Ask them to write down sequences of numbers, starting with two numbers, then three, then four, and so on. Have them read you the numbers aloud. If you prefer flash cards, have the cards held up for only ten seconds. Then, after you have either heard the numbers or have seen them, write them down as you remember them. Do this for each set of numbers and you will be able to see how strong your short term memory is. The average person can remember seven items at any one point in time.

Once you know how many items you can remember, you can strengthen your memory. There are a number of exercises that you can use in order to strengthen the memory, including simply doing the memory test a few times a day. In the world of memory, the more you use it, the stronger it gets.

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Tags: hippocampus, short term memory, short term memory brain