Total Recall: What’s Stored in Your Memory Bank?

Obviously, …

This post has nothing to do with the movies of the same title. Sorry to disappoint you if you were looking for fresh cinematography insights, but this is just another post building upon the previous ones exploring our amazing memory.

 

Hard Working Memory

Today, we will focus on working memory. Working memory is a fundamental cognitive function that allows us to temporarily hold and manipulate information for tasks like reasoning, learning, and comprehension.

 

The Scientific Prism

Our working memory is closely related to our short-term memory. In the post “3 in 1: Memory, Mindset & Mastery”, we have already brushed up on the work of American psychologist George A. Miller on short-term memory. In 1956, Miller published his paper “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information” that deals with short-term memory. The main idea behind it was that we can effectively process no more than seven units, or chunks, of information, plus or minus two pieces of information, at any given time.

However, more recent studies, like the one by Nelson Cowan, who proposed the “4 ± 1” theory for working memory capacity in 2001, show that this number might be closer to 4, depending on task complexity. Regardless of differing views on this matter, everyone can agree – working memory has a limited capacity. In terms of duration, working memory typically lasts around 10-15 seconds. This, of course, can be improved with active rehearsal.

In terms of brain area engagement, working memory primarily involves the prefrontal cortex and parietal lobes – areas responsible for attention, planning, and problem-solving. This can, among other things, help to explain why variations in working memory capacity among individuals can influence academic performance, particularly in areas like reading comprehension and mathematics.

 

Brain Gym

In the aforementioned post, we have already stated that working memory capacity often declines as we age, which can affect daily activities and learning, and that engaging in cognitive exercises can help mitigate this decline.

If you wish to give your working memory a boost, try playing games like the one below, or any other kind of matching games, puzzles, or word association challenges. Furthermore, in the same post, we have already mentioned chunking – breaking down information into smaller, manageable units, as well as mnemonics – techniques and strategies to create memorable associations like acronyms, rhymes, visualizations, or the famous memory palace.

Another excellent way to polish your working memory is to use “dual-task” games and activities, which combine two skills, like doing mental math while recalling a sequence of colors.

And, of course, don’t forget the healthy lifestyle – regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep have been shown to support and enhance working memory function.

 

How Much Can You Recall?

Check it out in the game below that greases your working memory gears.

Here’s how it works: You’ll be presented with the first part of a well-known phrase, term, or notion, like “Butterfly.” Your task is to recall and type the missing part – for example, “Effect”. In some cases, there are several possible options. Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered – you only need to enter one option, whichever comes to your mind first. Sometimes, the game will repeat the prompt. In that case, you can reenter the same answer or try a different one – the choice is yours! You can click on the submit button, or simply press enter. Your goal is to make as many associations as possible within just 60 seconds. For the best experience, play the game on your computer.

Get that clock ticking & good luck!

Found new associations? Get in touch and let’s build our memory bank together!

 

Keep your mind sharp and your smile brighter!