Even though this is only my third post in the memory series, one thing already emerging is that memory is a variable thing–influence by many things–external and internal to ourselves. There is some belief that we can train our memories–make them better.
Chunking is a technique believed to help improve short term short-term memory, my theme for April 2018 A to Z Blog Challenge.
Apparently, our short term memory has limited capacity. Chunking takes distinct pieces of information (chunks) and organizes them into larger groups, which makes them easier to recall. According to the theory, since the human brain tends to see patterns and categorize information, organizing small pieces into bigger chunks may make them more meaningful and thus easier to memorize. For example, if you want to memorize a shopping list, you might chunk them into recipes. Banana bread includes bananas, baking soda,cinnamon, eggs, flour, sugar and vanilla.
I do wonder if this is an age related thing. When I was younger, I remembered everything fairly easily. I could keep my entire calendar in my head. I recalled the face of almost everyone I met, and usually their names. I may have used chunking, as I tend to categorize and organize information quickly and well, but it was not a conscious thing. Now that I’ve entered my second half of life, I don’t remember much at all. Without the calendar and reminders available on my phone, I’d be sunk. Chunking I don’t honestly belief would help.
What do you think? Can we improve memory using various techniques or is to subject to age and circumstance and the still mysterious wiring of our brains.
Good tip, not one I had heard of before.
https://iainkellywriting.com/2018/04/03/c-is-for-cork-republic-of-ireland/
Well, I think that when we are young, we remember more things because we have less worries and there are people (for example, our parants) who take care of part of our life.
As we get older, not only we have to take care of our life (and so, rememebr a lto more things and organise them), but we also have to take care of other people’s life (for example our aging parents).
I think it’s more a question of load than true memory.
I think that we can definitely improve our memory as we age. I think it seems to get worse because we have more on our minds, more stress, etc. I think we also tend to pay attention less as we get older (been there, done that mentality), and short-term memory works best when we are attentive. Great post!
Doree Weller
Yes I don’t remember as many things as I wish I could. When I worked, I found I had a better memory than home. But sometimes I wonder how I remember all I do, between juggling my blog and all I want to write, my knitting and all the other things I want to do… I think I do pretty good. I decided to write on my fav childhood book character – Nancy Drew. Hope you’ll stop by. https://everyonehasafamilystorytotell.wordpress.com/category/2018-a-to-z-all-about-nancy-drew/
I’m not sure if chunking would help with my memory or not. It’s an interesting concept.
I have landed on your blog on Day 4, so should have read ‘D’, but I couldn’t resist the title Chunking! Sounds logical. I have an appalling memory so maybe it’s something I should try.
I’ve never heard of chunking before, but it makes sense. A friend of my dad’s had an association technique that involved memorising 20 objects associated with numbers (3 was stool, 4 was car, 5 was glove, etc.) Then when he had to remember a shopping list, he pictured each item with the other objects in some way, e.g. a stool covered in butter, a car filled with milk, a glove made of bread, etc. Strange, but it seemed to work for him! My own short-term memory is pretty bad; if I don’t write something down I just forget it. But my long-term memory is better than average, I would say.