MEMORY: Use it or lose it!

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By Dr. Asha Bajaj, Resident Since 1986

Memory is the sum total of what we remember and gives us the capability to learn, adapt and to build relationships. It is the ability to remember past experiences, process of recall of previously learned facts, experiences, impressions, skills and habits. It is the store of things learned and retained from our activity or experience, as evidenced by modification of structure or behavior.

It’s who you are, your history, your culture! How does memory work?

Memory works on a four step sequence of: Encoding, Consolidation, Storage and Recall.

The perceived sensations are decoded in the various sensory areas of the cortex and then combined in the brain’s hippo-campus into one single experience. The hippo-campus is then responsible for analyzing these inputs and ultimately deciding if they will be committed to long-term memory. It acts as a kind of sorting center where the new sensations are compared and associated with previously recorded ones. The various threads of information are then stored in various different parts of the brain.

The old models of memory postulated a serial process, but the newer models talk about parallel processing. As the name suggests this model proposes that memory is the activation of connections in different areas (distribution) at the same time (parallel). Cognitive processes are conceived of as networks within which the elements have multiple links. The emphasis in this model is on the connections rather than the elements they link. Units or nodes once accessed or activated then in turn excite or inhibit other nodes through the many links that exist. The patterns of the activations that occur give rise to cognitive representations such as memory and knowledge. Learning takes place as the strength of the connections between the relevant sites is changed.

Baddeley’s model of working memory: The original model of Baddeley & Hitch was composed of three main components: the central executive which acts as supervisory system and controls the flow of information from and to its slave systems: the phonological loop and the visuo-spatial sketchpad. The phonological loop stores verbal content, whereas the visuo-spatial sketchpad caters to visuospatial data. For example you might smell a rose that activates the memory of a poem/song or a painting that evokes the presence of a friend being present -all firing different regions of the brain at the same time resulting in recall.

This theory proposed that performance of two simultaneous tasks requiring the use of two separate perceptual domains (i.e. a visual and a verbal task) is nearly as efficient as performance of the tasks individually. In contrast, when a person tries to carry out two tasks simultaneously that use the same perceptual domain, performance is less efficient than when performing the tasks individually.

Tips for improving Memory: GULP!

G-Get it: Pay attention, listen and experience with all your senses

U: Use it: review, and repeat, write it downL: Link it:to a location, associate with something you knowP: Picture it: visualize, exaggerate, color itRemember that memory is like a muscle use it or lose it!

Dr. Asha Bajaj, PT/DPT has 30+years experience in a variety of settings including the management and operation of an outpatient private practice in Walnut Creek. Asha has served in Bhutan, India, Vietnam and Malawi, Africa with Health Volunteers Overseas to train and develop their Physical therapy program. Asha has a special interest in Women’s health and did her doctoral project in the area of Bone health and Osteoporosis. Her goal is to promote health and lifelong wellness.