Jan/090
Developing the mind for staying young: some exercise to remember better
Now that the technology provides us with the virtual memory of all kinds, that of the cell to the enormous amount of data that can be stored on personal computers and USB keys, to map out directions suggested by the GPS navigation, seems to have become useless to use our memory.
I know many people who are not able to even remember the number by telephone.
In reality, the human memory is to be developed and trained, even now that seems unnecessary, because it serves to strengthen the brain and keep young.
Memory is also about identity. We are what we remember: the places, people, the events and emotions experienced are our existence. To understand the importance of remembering, just think of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and any other disease that destroys memory. Also gradually lose their lives, memories and personal identity.
But how do you keep awake the brain and develop the ability to store data?
Here are some curiosity and some ploy to strengthen and expand your memory:
- How children are required to memorize the multiplication tables and tenses at school, so even adults can work with words and numbers to develop storage. Here is a simple exercise to do: write on a sheet a series of random numbers, starting with a series of five digits and gradually coming to nine. Repeat without looking at the number written to the rhythm of a number per second, until you can repeat without error all nine digits. Then move to a series of ten numbers, eleven numbers and so on, until you reach your personal limit of memory capacity. They repeat the same numbers, but this time in reverse. The exercise will then be repeated using words rather than numbers.
- Write four words on a sheet and devote to other activities for 5 minutes, after which the case if you remember the words written. Gradually increase the time interval to 10 minutes, then a quarter of an hour to arrive a half hour break. Gradually increase the list of words from 4 to 10. Another exercise is to watch a television program and then see how many scenes managed to replay in your mind.
- Do many games that stimulate your brain and logic, but not always on the same fixatives. As in the gym you never use the same tools so that you must train your memory with different instruments. Sudoku, crosswords, grids logical puzzles, anagrams, puzzles, memory enhancers are valid, just alternatives and not fixated on only one specific game.
- Be very physical activity, has recently been shown to stimulate the synapses in the brain. An hour of aerobic exercise per week can lead to produce new neurons in the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for memory.
- The leaves of Ginkgo biloba, a tree so old as to be one of the first living species, improve circulation and the influx of blood and thus also the memory. It might be worth trying, especially considering the fact that the flow of blood is a critical component for the optimal functioning of the brain and memory.
- Relieve aluminum: it has been associated with memory loss and premature senility.
- The nicotine helps the memory, far be it from me, pushing me to smoke, but soon will have a pill with the drug for people with Alzheimer’s, and beyond.