What is Memory?

Memory allows us to remember facts and experiences. Memory consists of encoding, storing information, and retrieval, making that information available for recall. When we see or experience something, it leaves a trace in our brain. In most cases, this trace fades, but when we reinforce it, by paying attention to it and reinforcing it and making associations to previous knowledge, that trace can become a permanent memory.

There are several different types of memory. The two most commonly discussed are short term and long term memory. Short term memory has a limited capacity and a very brief span. It allows you to do things like quickly memorize a phone number long enough to dial it, and then the information is gone.

Long term memory, in contrast, has a virtually unlimited capacity and can store information throughout a lifetime, although these memories might need occasional revisits. This is the type of memory involved in learning.

What is learning?

Learning, unlike memory, is not about storing information. Rather, learning is a behavior. Learning is about acquiring information, memory about storing it. In a way, you could say that learning is a process, and memory is the record of that process. It is intimately linked to memory, in that it is totally reliant upon memory to function, but it goes beyond harboring facts into implementation.

The Physical Underpinnings of Memory and Learning

How do memory formation and learning really work? Several changes in the brain’s organization and chemistry produce memory. In particular:

• The synthesis of certain proteins increases long term potentiating. Long term potentiating is an enhancement in the ability of two neurons to communicate with one another after repeatedly being stimulated together.
• Neurons form more connections with each other.
• More neurons are produced in the hippocampus, the area of the brain principally involved with memory.
• More glial cells are created. Glial cells support the neurons of the brain.
• Myelin production is increased. Myelin is the fatty layer of insulation that enables electrical signals to travel down neurons more quickly,
• Capillaries grow to specific brain regions, brining in more nutrients and oxygen.

How to Improve Your Memory

There are several things you can do to enhance your memory. Of these, exercise is the most important. Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain and makes it work more efficiently. Exercise has also been found to increase neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons) in the hippocampus. Just walking for thirty minutes a day can help prevent or slow cognitive decline associated with the aging process, and can improve the memory in people of all ages.

Mental exercise is also very helpful. Mental exercise reinforces connections in the brain and improves efficiency. Some good ways to exercise your mind include: doing crossword or Sudoku puzzles, playing challenging games such as chess or go, and mastering a new skill. For the best benefits you can switch to a new activity every now and then to work out a different part of your brain. And remember, interacting with people will also stimulate your brain, and is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to keep your mind active.

Finally, make sure to eat a good balanced diet and get all the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients you need. When the brain has all the fuel and components it needs and is healthy and fit, memory and learning will naturally be in good condition.

Try a natural solution to increase memory and focus.

Sources:
http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/d/d_07/d_07_p/d_07_p_tra/d_07_p_tra.html#1
http://www.aarp.org/health/brain/works/how_learning_changes_the_brain.html