7 surprising ways to improve your memory

Memory - a "muscle", which can be pump. Memory - this is daily work, Which should take care. Memory - is a set of unusual factors, which are useful to know.

Keep track of upstanding

"Humpback nobody likes and does not marry (married) to them," - scare mothers, grandmothers and first teachers, forcing us to keep an eye on your posture. In general, they are right, but that's an argument picked up incorrectly. Much more convincing sound research staff at the University of San Francisco, according to which the erect posture increases the oxygen flow to the brain by 40%. Of course, any excess oxygen does not occur, but the memory function improves. It does not matter whether you are sitting or standing - back should be straight!

Here we want to talk about the research of German scientists from the University of Witten / Herdecke. They found that the line "happy" gait helps to revive positive memories in the memory, but the hunched - depressive. Spread your wings and go with a firm step upstanding!

close your eyes

Remember how you or your classmates, standing at the blackboard, trying to "give birth" bad learned poem. Often when this "martyr" tightly clenched eyelids, trying to recall at least a couple of lines. This instinctive behavior really works, as evidenced by two-stage study, conducted in English University of Surrey.

In the first case, 178 subjects were shown a video on criminal plumbing, kleptomania, which is properly done its job, but do not forget to take with a trophy. Study participants were randomly divided into two groups, one of which was offered to answer questions about the details of what he saw with his eyes closed, and the other - open. As a result of the test, close your eyes during questioning, gave up 23% of correct answers.

In the second phase, participants were asked to remember the sounds. Expectedly, closed his eyes and gave a better effect here.

It is also important to mention about another withdrawal of scientists: the friendly relations between the interviewer and those who asked questions, also increased the number of correct answers.

Avoid doorways

Hmm, it sounds weird, but it's true. Scientists from the University of Notre Dame said that, leaving or entering the room, the person experiencing the so-called effect of the doorway. The researchers argue that the short-term memories are cleared from memory when passing through the doorway. That is to catalyze the door to get rid of the thoughts that arose in a particular environment.

But do not go to extremes and shy away from any doors, because the psychological effect has reversed:

If you can not remember which idea came to you last night in the bathroom, just go back there to immerse in the atmosphere of the brain, which caused the idea.

Use unusual fonts

It is no secret that different fonts differently perceived by the person: some are read quickly and easily, but on the other after a few paragraphs, begin to "follow" your eyes. That is why in typography and Web-based environment used rather modest, but well-tested set of fonts. It is convenient for all of us: books listateley readers and online publications.

However, psychologists at Princeton University and Indiana University are advised to read some of the text in an unusual typography, to better remember them. The researchers divided the ordinary students into two groups, one of which was proposed by the educational material written by the usual Arial, and the other - on the Monotype Corsiva.

Verification testing has allowed the following conclusion: an unusual font is remembered better, resulting in higher scores. Scientists explain this effect that is difficult to read fonts do not allow your eyes to slide the rows. A man unwittingly begins to read more thoughtfully and carefully, and therefore the sense of better fixed in the memory.

See comedy series

It's simple: half an hour of laughter improves memory. This conclusion was made by scientists from Loma Linda University, conducted a simple experiment on two groups of elderly people. The first twenty volunteers watched a 30-minute humorous movie, but this time the other group did not do anything. After that, the subjects underwent a test of memory. Expectedly, people with high spirits shown much better results. And all because:

Laughter reduces levels of cortisol - a hormone that can damage the nerve cells of the hippocampus - part of the brain responsible for the transformation of information into new memories.

In addition to that during laughter produced endorphins - chemicals that improve mood and improve memory.

chew the cud

Chewing gum helps a person to focus on tasks that require constant attention for a long period of time.

Kate Morgan (Kate Morgan)

The University of Cardiff words based on a study, which was attended by 38 people, divided into two groups. In my experience, scientists have suggested volunteers to perform a half-hour audiozadanie, focused on short-term memory of man. Participants listened to a list of numbers and had to determine a sequence of even and odd numbers. Conclusions were curious and ambiguous: subjects without gum at the beginning of the job to cope a little better with it, but lost by the end of those who chewed gum. Therefore, Kate advises grab with a gum for long meetings or seminars.

Write notes by hand

Modern lecture room are increasingly full of laptops and tablets, which record their lectures students. For some, it is a chance to shine its the new MacBookFor someone - a way to prepare a crib ahead of time, and for someone - a desire to write down as much as possible. Indeed, well-organized blind printing allows you to record large amounts of information. However, electronic records are stored worse than a good old-fashioned handwriting.

This is the conclusion reached by researchers from Princeton University. They compared the test results of students who used computers for conducting lecture notes, those who wrote them out by hand. Students with a pen in his hand refers to information more closely to better identify important information and better organized material in my head. experiment, the authors make a cautious statement saying that the car "shorthand" is not the best effect on memorization, and accordingly, and to progress.