Are there any legitimate ways to improve your memory, other than mnemonic "tricks"?

[PaperclipGod]

I feel cursed: I've got ADD, so my attention is constantly jumping from one thing to the next. To compound the problem, I've got an awful memory (and it's not getting any better with age), so the few things which do initially manage to "stick" in my brain, I end up forgetting soon after.

I realize there are lots of mnemonic devices and other sorts of tricks which can improve recall ability... but I'm curious if there are any ways to improve memory that don't involve that active, conscious participation. Like with physical exercise -- you spend time training your abilities before a competition, and then when you need to compete, your body just works the way you want it to.

Is there anything I can do to "train" my passive ability to retain information? e.g., Yoga? Crossword puzzles? Pharmaceuticals? Diet? Watching Rainman once a day?

 

[shortylickens]

Yes there are, but I forget how.
Once read a book on memory and how to improve it. Most of the tips were mnemonic related. Cant recall what the other ones were.

Mostly its just getting in the habit of using your brain more. Read more, exercise the thought muscles. Force your brain to strain on a more regular basis.
I recommend giving up TV. Try to teach yourself something, like a new language. Or other mental skill. Instead of playing mental games, why not make up one? Do something creative, but with structure. Theres a reason people get their kids into music, and its not to make pretty sounds.

 

[Matthiasa]

Hmm you have ADD so get some adderall or similar such thing.
Unless you are only pretending to have ADD.

 

[gaidensensei]

Imo it's really about giving up daily use of TV, computers (if you use them for no purpose of learning), even cellphones and going back to text/books.

I think most if not all of us retain a lot of memory during our childhood. What I mean is in second or third grade, if you bothered to care you probably knew the names of every student in your classroom and still knew it by 4th grade.

Seems the key to that is somewhat to follow that same "boring" pattern.

Of course if you have something like genetic Alzheimer's or Creutzfeld-jakobs then there's nothing that can be done about that..

ADHD is another form of ADD I recall..

 

[yhelothar]

Play memory games such as simon.
Take supplements that increase plasticity of the brain, such as aniracetam.
This actually increases the receptors that are responsible for the synaptic connections in short term memory. In short term memory, new receptors are formed and a constant connection is formed between two synapses, but this connection fades away after a few minutes. The racetam family of supplements can lengthen the time the receptors stay on the synapse.

 

[Nik]

Of course. Just like any other skill, memory improves with practice.

 

[dighn]

"dual n-back" training might improve your short term memory and focus.

http://brainworkshop.sourceforge.net/

 

[Fritzo]

...forgot what I was going to say.

 

[DarkWarrior2]

Yes there are, but I forget how.
Once read a book on memory and how to improve it. Most of the tips were mnemonic related. Cant recall what the other ones were.

Mostly its just getting in the habit of using your brain more. Read more, exercise the thought muscles. Force your brain to strain on a more regular basis.
I recommend giving up TV. Try to teach yourself something, like a new language. Or other mental skill. Instead of playing mental games, why not make up one? Do something creative, but with structure. Theres a reason people get their kids into music, and its not to make pretty sounds.

This.

I also have ADD, and shortylickens advice is what works best for me.

I strain my brain by trying to remember things outright, without any tricks like mnemonic techniques. I call it "brute force" memory techniques. It can be discouraging at first, but if you give it time, it works wonders. If you need to remember anything really important, just write it down, just in case.

I also rarely watch television anymore. I've taught myself many things to keep my brain working. I also love to read and write.

I've also tried different medications for my ADD, only one really worked well for me. It boosted my memory and concentration significantly, but one major side effect made it a non-option. (Increased hostility and aggression ) Now I just use ginkgo-biloba capsules and drink matcha green tea. It's not the same, but it helps.

It's strange to hear many of my friends speak of their memory fading with age, because mine is getting better.

Here's to your memory, OP!

 

[darkxshade]

fish oil supplementation?

 

[yhelothar]

fish oil supplementation?

This also.

 

[MJinZ]

Caffeine.

 

[Demo24]

Here's the problem, with short term memory the general consensus is 7+ or - 2 items able to be 'kept' in your working memory at a time. However if you use some clever grouping techniques you can extend how many individual items. So for example, you could remember 7 numbers but to keep them there you'll need to keep running through them. If you get distracted and move on just for a sec..yup, you've lost a slot or two, three..etc. However if you figure out a way to group those 7 numbers as 1 thing, then being distracted might mean you won't lose them.


Imagery seems to work the best for rogue memorization. Brute force free recall...not so much. So, try to make connections with familiar things in order to remember them. Making a story with pictures in your mind, another good way. Repetition can work for some things, but unlikely you'll want to simply sit around thinking to yourself "gotta remember, 4 2 5 9 21" over and over again. Get too many items and you'll remember the beginning and end parts, but probably very few of the middle ones.

Your memory is probably better than you think, but it never hurts to stress your brain. However if you keep jumping from thing to thing all the time you'll never be able to remember all you want. Being ADD definitely won't help things. Get that ADD under control and then see if things improve. Your working memory abilities generally don't decline much until very late in life.

 

[Leros]

Read. Play puzzle games. Take a subject and think really deep about it, philosophize about it, try to figure out something knew that nobody else knows.

 

[PaperclipGod]

Play memory games such as simon.
Take supplements that increase plasticity of the brain, such as aniracetam.
This actually increases the receptors that are responsible for the synaptic connections in short term memory. In short term memory, new receptors are formed and a constant connection is formed between two synapses, but this connection fades away after a few minutes. The racetam family of supplements can lengthen the time the receptors stay on the synapse.

I was into nootropics 6 or 7 years ago, but none of the ones I tried made any noticeable difference. I tried several, but the only one I can remember atm (no pun intended!) is piracetam. I took gobs of fish oil, too... it did wonders for my mood, but didn't affect my memory or concentration much.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

I think a lot of small things also can contribute. Don't use the phone book feature in your phone. Keep it all in your head. Use different passwords and login info for every website instead of using auto-login.

Little stuff. Doesn't hurt anyway

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Mnemonic "tricks" are not tricks. Memory is all about making associations. The more you can associate new information with old well known information, the better your memory. For example, associating new information with an arbitrary mnemonic device such as making a word from the first letter of each new term is only good for short term memory. Finding associations with family members, home or, happy memories can aid in long term memory.