Type Of Memory Training That Works

April 30, 2008

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

We have different types of memory. Researchers have found that one type called fluid memory can be improved by training.

Fluid memory is the ability to adapt to a completely new situation or problem. It is considered important in learning, and high levels are associated with success in both professional and educational arenas. The level of fluid intelligence that a person has was thought to be inherited and generally not taught.

However recent studies have shown that with certain training that fluid memory can be increased. Two groups one with the training and one without were compared in standard tests to find a missing pattern. The untrained group improved as they took the test several times over a period of weeks as they got better at taking the tests. However, those with the training improved much more.

The training was like a more complicated version of kids card memory games. Briefly, on a computer screen the participants were shown squares at different locations. At the same time in headphones there were the sounds of individual consonants. When something presented matched something a certain number of steps back a key was to be pressed. The level of difficulty was continually adjusted individually for each participant, to make it neither too easy nor too hard, and to keep the interest level high.

The type of memory that was being trained is working memory. This is the short term memory that we use for remembering things like telephone numbers.

The training probably helped to focus on the task at hand and block out other irrelevant stuff and multitask.

This increased ability to block out irrelevant stuff is interesting for aging. Since one of the reasons for decreasing memory as we age, is that we become more easily distracted and find it harder to focus on a single thing.

photo credit: Corey (a.k.a. Ten0fnine)