They say that the human brain has a memory capacity of about 2.5 million gigabytes However, our memory can be quite selective. Recent things are easily accessible. Over time, these memories, especially the less important ones, fade. For example, you probably remember any conversation you had yesterday pretty well, even if not word for word. Now try to remember a conversation you had 10 years ago today. For most people, it’s an impossible task. If something was emotionally significant to you, it’s likely to be gone forever. But there are some things you can do if you want to improve your memory, and some of them are quite surprising. Be sure to bookmark this one in case you forget about it.
10. Apple juice stimulates neurotransmitters
They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but no one has clarified whether you should eat it. Some studies suggest that you can juice it if you want and still get some great benefits. Specifically, animal studies have shown that apple juice helps increase the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine . It is a key component of brain function and memory in particular. Patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease have shown that increasing acetylcholine levels reduces the rate of mental decline.
The working theory, based on observations, is that if a person drinks apple juice regularly, they will be able to maintain normal brain function and memory, and potentially delay disease Alzheimer's Apples also contain antioxidants, which are also believed to aid memory and cognition.
A 2006 study involving a small group of patients aged 72 to 93 with Alzheimer's disease found that drinking 4 ounces of apple juice three times a week could reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease by as much as 75%.
9. Drawing can increase your memory by as much as 30%
Good news if you're one of those people who can't resist doodling on paper whenever you have a pen and a spare minute. Simply doodling can apparently help you focus, improve memory and even better understand new concepts and ideas.
To test the potential usefulness of the doodle, participants in one experiment were made to sit and be bored. They were given a boring test and then moved to another room that had nothing to attract their attention. They had to listen to a pre-recorded monotonous telephone message about people invited to a party and write down the names of people who would be coming, ignoring those who would not.
One group had to focus only on a long, boring message. The other was allowed to use a pencil to color in small holes and rectangles on the paper — a very simple form of drawing. The drawers were better at remembering the names, and in a surprise memory test after the fact, their scores were 30% is better, than those who did not draw.
8. Weight loss, including surgical weight loss, can improve memory
Weight issues are something of a modern plague among humans. In 2021, about 45% respondents in 30 countries said they were actively trying to lose weight. There are many reasons why people might want to do this, from wanting to look better, feel better, and help manage serious medical problems like heart disease or diabetes that can be made worse by weight issues. And if you're in the same boat as many others, here's another reason to consider shedding a few pounds. Losing weight has been shown to help improve memory.
Kent State University conducted a study of 150 overweight people. Being overweight is known to be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, so the researchers wanted to see if changing this condition would affect memory. Some of the study participants had gastric bypass surgery, and others did not. Over the course of 12 weeks, those who had the surgery did show significant improvement.
Harvard researchers also looked at the links between the types of bad cholesterol from saturated fats and trans fats. They found that it’s not just your heart that suffers when bad cholesterol builds up, but your brain as well. A high-fat, high-cholesterol diet appears to contribute to the formation of beta-amyloid plaques, which are found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
Women in the study who ate a diet high in saturated fat and butter showed the worst results in memory tests than those who ate very little. Plaque from these diets appears to accumulate in brain tissue and deprive your brain of oxygen, leading to poor performance on things like memory tests.
7. Laughter releases hormones that improve short-term memory.
There's an old saying about laughter being the best medicine, which probably doesn't help most people suffering from terminal illnesses. However, there is evidence that laughter is actually good for your mental health, including improving your short-term memory.
Humor, and laughter in particular, has been shown to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. one small study Participants were asked to sit still and do nothing for 20 minutes or watch a comedy video of their choice. After 20 minutes, both groups were given a test to assess short-term memory, including delayed recall, learning ability, and visual recognition. Cortisol levels in saliva were measured throughout the study.
The human group members showed improved performance in all three areas. Salivary cortisol levels were also significantly lower. It was concluded that laughter and humor have a significant effect, at least in the short term, on memory and recall.
6. Daytime naps can improve cognitive function
If you ever find yourself feeling a little sluggish during the day and think that maybe a short power nap will help you get back on track, science has your back. There’s evidence that naps are not only a good way to refresh yourself, but they can also improve your memory and other cognitive functions. All it takes is 30 to 90 minutes a day, and in some cases, even less.
A 2009 study found that people who memorized a list of words and then took a nap, even for just six minutes , were better at remembering words later than those who didn't take a nap. Those who sleep longer, from 30 to 90 minutes, not only remember words better, but also better draw figures.
One thing to remember is that sleeping longer actually hurts your cognitive function, not helps it. At some point, you'll start to experience the opposite effects of sleeping too long, so keep it short and to the point.
5. Riding a motorcycle improves cognition
Many grandmothers around the world will tell you that there is no point in riding a motorcycle, it is terribly dangerous and irresponsible. But if you are a fan of the open road and the wind in your hair (under your helmet), then good news. Riding a motorcycle seems to have a beneficial effect on various aspects of knowledge.
A study of men who had stopped riding motorcycles for more than a decade. Half the group began riding every day again, while the other half continued to ride cars or bikes. After two months, the motorcycle group showed higher cognitive function scores, and their performance on simple memory tests increased by 50% compared to their pre-ride results. Those who didn't ski actually felt slightly worse after two months.
It is suggested that the increased alertness required to ride a motorcycle engages more of your brain and thus has an overall improved effect.
4. Chewing gum
It used to be considered an insult to tell someone they would have a hard time walking and chewing gum at the same time. You don't hear it that often anymore, and maybe that's a good thing, because apparently chewing gum actually does you good. Chewing gum has been linked to information retention and improved memory.
In one study, students preparing for a test were divided into groups where one group chewed gum during a study session and the other did not. Those who chewed gum showed the best results , and also reported feeling more alert before an exam. This may be partly due to the fact that chewing gum increases overall blood flow, since although it may be moderate, it is still physical activity. This increases blood flow to the brain and can make you feel more alert. This alertness from chewing gum has been shown in more than one study. It has also been shown to reduce stress, which can help with concentration. The exact reasons are still speculative.
Another test on adults divided participants into three groups. One chewed gum, one pretended to chew gum, and one did nothing. They were given memory and attention tests, and the gum chewers scored higher 24% more points for immediate word recall and 36% higher for delayed word recall. Whatever the scientific reason, the results show that chewing gum helps improve your memory.
3. Pink noise during sleep helps improve waking memory
Many people enjoy having white noise playing in the background while they sleep. A machine playing nature sounds, or just a fan running. But some research suggests that you want to ditch the white noise and get some pink noise.
Pink noise, like white noise, is still relatively random. However, it has the same energy in each octave, meaning it includes high and low frequency sounds, making it more natural and calming than white noise. Listening to pink noise can help improve your sleep and waking memory .
In a test to see if participants could better recall a memory test they took before bed, pink noise, which essentially sounds like running water, was played at regular intervals one night and not the next. After a night with pink noise, sleep improved, and participants performed three times better on memory tests than on a night without it.
2. Sex can improve memory
It's always good when something you enjoy turns out to be good for you, so raise a glass to a study that suggests sex can actually improve your memory, at least if you're old enough.
Research has shown that sexual activity in older adults from 50 to 89 years old significantly improves their memory and cognitive abilities. Interestingly, there was actually a difference in how this affected both men and women. Men and women of the appropriate age who were sexually active were tested on both word recall and number sequencing. Men showed increases in both areas, while women did not seem to benefit from number sequencing.
In animal studies, rats that were allowed to have sex every day for two weeks showed greater neuronal growth , than those who had sex only once during this time.
A later study of women aged 18-29 found that those who had more regular sex improved their ability to recall abstract words. However, there was no improvement in other areas, such as the ability to recall faces.
1. Controlling fire may have improved the memory of our ancient ancestors
Think about how cool it must have been when one of our ancient ancestors first figured out that they could make fire. Not just by accident, but by doing the same thing over and over again to ensure that they always had fire when they wanted it. No doubt this guy was very popular until everyone else figured it out.
Fire was mastered before Homo sapiens started strutting around, and Homo erectus likely used it not only to cook food, but also to ward off predators and make harsh places more tolerable so they could expand their territory.
Cooking food, both meat and vegetables, can lead to changes such as smaller jaw size, smaller intestines, and other differences in digestion between us and our distant ancestors. In addition, the nutrition we received also changed us in ways that improved social and intellectual abilities .
Fire offered artificial light so that our days didn’t end in the sun. Instead of sleeping 12 or more hours a day, our ancestors could stay awake in their caves and spend more time doing literally anything. Thus began the advancement of cognitive growth, including problem-solving skills and long-term memory. It is also thought that fire would have allowed for longer periods of REM sleep because these ancient ancestors did not have to fear predators nearly as much as they did with fire as a protector. During REM sleep, the brain is able to process memories, develop, form and retain skills, and essentially learn from what we have done. All of this could potentially be linked to fire. Perhaps fire allowed us to have a period of memory.
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