Harvard-trained neuroscientist with 20+ years experience: 7 tricks I use to keep my memory sharp

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'Memories can be tougher to access with time and age,' says Harvard-trained neuroscientist Lisa Genova. Here are her top tricks to keep her memory sharp.

It's happened to just about everyone: You try to remember what happened last week, your Netflix password, your grocery list, where you parked your car or the name of that guy you see at the coffee shop — and just draw a blank.

If you're writing down something that you want to remember, write it in all caps, highlight it in pink marker or circle it. Add a chart or doodle a picture. Make what you're trying to remember something you can easily see in your mind's eyePeople with the best memories have the best imaginations. To help make a memory unforgettable, use creative imagery.

Emotion and surprise activate your amygdala, which then sends a loud and clear message to your hippocampus: "Hey! What is going on right now is extremely important. Remember this!"Repetition and rehearsal strengthen memories. Quizzing yourself enhances your memory for the material far better than simply rereading it.

You might be worried that this is somehow cheating or that you'll worsen your memory's capabilities if you rely too much on these external "crutches" instead of using your brain. Our brains aren't designed to remember to do things later. Write them down.Memory retrieval is far easier and faster when the internal and external conditions match whatever they were when that memory was formed. Your learning circumstances matter, too.

 

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‘Lost Bird’ not seen in 20 years photographed for the first timeLaura is a science news writer, covering a wide variety of subjects, but she is particularly fascinated by all things aquatic, paleontology, nanotechnology, and exploring how science influences daily life. Laura is a proud former resident of the New Jersey shore, a competitive swimmer, and a fierce defender of the Oxford comma.
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