Can we improve our memories?

Memory is the capacity in which we are able to recall events and experiences. There are several types of memory including semantic memory, which can be words and sentence structure, episodic memory that is material from the past, which can also be known as autobiographical memory, and procedural memory, which is how you do things such as riding a bike. Also, there is long term memory (LTM) which, in theory, is unlimited and things within it can be remembered indefinitely and short term memory (STM) which is limited and involves remembering just a couple of things for a short time, for example recalling a shopping list. There are three stages to memory; encoding which is the acquisition of knowledge and a creation of an internal representation, storage which involves the retention of this representation in the LTM or the STM and retrieval which is the process of actively recalling or recognising the memory. Many researchers believe that a person’s memory can be improved, and possible ways of doing this are now going to be discussed.

The multi-store model by Atkinson and Shiffron, (1967) (as cited in Cardwell, M., Clark, L., and Meldrum, C. 1996) stated that rehearsal of information means that that information will be transferred from the STM to the LTM. This is a useful technique in order to remember more as the STM has a limited capacity and is prone to distraction or displacement of information. However, the model has a passive view on memory, and newer theorists have emphasised the active processing involved in recall, but many theorists have used this model as the basis for their theorising. Miller (1956) (as cited in Cardwell, M., Clark, L., and Meldrum, C. 1996) suggested that the capacity of the STM is seven plus or minus two items. He called this the ‘magic number seven’. Therefore, the more information that is rehearsed and enters the LTM, the more one can remember.

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Another early memory model was by Craik and Lochart (1972) (as cited in Cardwell, M., Clark, L., and Meldrum, C. 1996) as they constructed the levels of processing model. The basic principle of this model is that if you give meaning to something, you are more likely to remember it. Through creating elaborate connections between memories and experiences and elaborate rehearsal, things will be remembered on a deeper level and so will be retained for longer. These levels are semantic, phonemic and verbal – with semantic processing as the most ‘deep’. There are difficulties in defining the exact nature of ...

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Mnemonics is a method in which people often try to improve their memory (as cited in www.demon.co.uk/mindtool/assimloc.html). There are many ways of doing this and one of them includes the use of association, imagination and location.

Association (as cited in ) is a method by which you can link a thing to be remembered to a method of remembering it. You can associate things by:

Being placed on top of an associated object
Merging together
Wrapping around eachother
Dancing together
Or being the same colour, smell, shape or feeling

Therefore, association is the use of an image to recall a memory. For example, creating an image of a one shaped spear to spear a goldfish would link the number one to a goldfish.

Imagination (as cited in www.demon.co.uk/mindtool/assimloc.html) is the way we use our mind to create links that have the most meaning to us. The more strongly you imagine and visualise a situation, the more it will stay in your mind for later recall. Mnemonic imagination can be as vivid, sensual or violent, as you like, as long as it helps you to remember what needs to be remembered.

Location (as cited in ) provides two things: a context information can be placed so it hangs together, and a way to separate one mnemonic memory from another. For example, through location, one memory can be put in one city and another memory can be put in another city. It stops you from being confused with similar memories. For example, visualise one mnemonic memory in Madrid, Spain and a similar one in Florida, USA, therefore there is no danger of confusion.

These are the three fundamental principles underlying the use of mnemonics. Used together, they can generate powerful mnemonic systems meaning that you can recall the images you make, and through the links between and separation of the images this is a way of recalling a memory so that is does not conflict with other images and associations.

However, this process is quite time consuming and complicated, to work out a story to represent a list of words could take a lot of time and thought, which is not very practical. Also, it may not be obvious if part of an image or story was missing, and if this were not remembered the rest of the sequence would also be lost. However, when used properly, these methods are very effective at improving memory. An example of a simpler mnemonic technique is peg system; this works by linking words that you need to remember to well-known words threw imagery. Another simple idea would be to change your lifestyle in a simple way that enhanced your memory; the next point is an illustration of this idea.

According to The Fruit Pages (as cited in ) fruit contains natural sugars that stimulate the brain so we can think faster and recall information quicker. Some food has a negative affect, these are known as ‘Brain-blockers’, and include white flour, refined white sugar and turkey. Therefore, to improve memory one should eat a lot of raw fruits and carrots, and avoid the ‘Brain-blockers’. The Fruit Pages recommends that from waking and until an exam, you should only eat fresh fruit, but as much as you want and it claims that you will be able to tell the difference through thinking clearer and recalling information faster.

According to this research all one would need to do is eat a lot of fruit and avoid certain foods in order to improve their brain’s capabilities, thus improving their memory. However, this is not an option that is available to all – for those on lower incomes and who have little time to shop and prepare food, this is both too costly and time consuming. Also, The Fruit Pages are not sure what it is that causes this improvement – so how can they be sure it is due to the fruit?

Research has suggested that there is in fact no way of improving ones memory. Bear et al (1996) (as cited in ) suggested that chronic alcoholism, brain tumours, concussion and Encephalitis could create total or partial memory loss. These situations cannot be prevented and once the damage has been done there is little or nothing that can be done to improve their damaged memories. Other problems that may cause global transitory amnesia are stress, car accidents, drugs, cold baths and sex. So it would seem that there are many instances were a person’s memory is made worse, and it cannot be improved.

Hunter (1964) said that some theories do not enhance memory. For example the 20th Century idea to take memory-improving pills. However, when tested these pills have the same effect as any regular stimulus such as coffee or going to sleep early.

A further point is that it is hard to forget something that you have not learned. For example if you were in a dull lecture, you would become bored, stop listening, lose motivation and so stop remembering what was being said to you – in this case, how can the memory of the lecture be improved? It quite simply cannot.

An undisputed point is that brain capacity is limited, there is not or cannot be an unlimited amount of space to store memories and information – therefore memory should only be able to be improved to a point. This is proven again with the existence of filters within different senses; this stops all of the information entering the brain, thus stopping us from remembering all of it. If you become bombarded with information that you need to remember there is only a small chance you will be able to remember all of it. Due to the fact that some information will be filtered out, only seven bits of information can enter the STM at any time and that information needs to be rehearsed before you remember it, there would be too much happening to remember everything no matter how much that person tried to improve their memory.

The sensory memory decays quickly, meaning that the majority of memories are lost, and this is a fact that cannot be changed or improved – it is the mechanism of the sensory memory.

To conclude it appears that there are many arguments for and against the possibility of improving memory. A lot seems to depend on the individual – no one idea will work to improve everyone’s memory. However, if the individual is willing to put time, effort and thought into improving their memory, there is a lot evidence suggesting that this can be done.