Strategies that can improve memory consolidation and retrieval

Even a short nap can improve your memory recall. In one study , participants memorized illustrated cards to test their memory strength. After memorizing a set of cards, they had a minute break wherein one group napped, and the other stayed awake. After the break, both groups were tested on their memory of the cards — the group who had napped performed better:. Much to the surprise of the researchers, the sleep group performed significantly better, retaining on average 85 percent of the patterns, compared to 60 percent for those who had remained awake.

Apparently, napping actually helps our brain to solidify memories :. Not only is sleep after learning a critical part of the memory creation process, but sleep before learning something new is important as well.

Research has found that sleep deprivation can affect our ability to commit new things to memory and consolidate any new memories we create. Have you tried any of these methods for improving your memory? What works best for you? Let us know in the comments. This article originally appeared on Buffer and is reprinted with permission. AWS Deloitte Genpact.

Events Innovation Festival. Follow us:. By Belle Beth Cooper 6 minute Read. By adding an element of novelty to your study sessions, you can increase the effectiveness of your efforts and significantly improve your long-term recall.

Researchers have long known that sleep is important for memory and learning. Research has shown that taking a nap after you learn something new can actually help you learn faster and remember better.

In fact, one study published in found that sleeping after learning something new actually leads to physical changes in the brain.

Sleep-deprived mice experienced less dendritic growth following a learning task than well-rested mice. So the next time you're struggling to learn new information, consider getting a good night's sleep after you study. Ever wonder what your personality type means? Sign up to find out more in our Healthy Mind newsletter. Winerman L. Study smart. American Psychological Association.

Interpreting semantic clustering effects in free recall. This time it's personal: the memory benefit of hearing oneself. Serial position, output order, and list length effects for words presented on smartphones over very long intervals. J Mem Lang.

Sleep promotes branch-specific formation of dendritic spines after learning. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind.

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We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Focus Your Attention. Set aside a short period of time to be alone. Avoid Cramming. The left-hand is similar to a b and the right hand is similar to d. Your child can recall the sequence by saying the alphabet " a , b , c , d " Richards, , p. Practicing letter form or spelling words is enhanced by using air writing, another technique to create a motor image for the student Richards, , p.

Air writing figure 7 involves writing the letters in the air creating a motor image while also imagining seeing the letters creating a visual image. The student should simultaneously say the letter as she writes it in the air creating an auditory image. Other motor image examples for spelling words are also easy to incorporate into a homework session: fist tapping and arm tapping.

In fisting, the student taps each syllable of the word to be spelled using the side of her fists. She then spells the word syllable by syllable, this time tapping their fist to each sound within the syllable as she spells it. In arm tapping, the student follows the same procedure of first identifying each syllable and then identifying every sound within each syllable.

This time the student uses two fingers of one hand to tap on the forearm of the other hand. These simple strategies involve muscle memory while also helping the student proceed systematically.

These two aspects create a very powerful memory enhancer. Many math strategies for finger calculation, especially multiplication, take advantage of motor images or muscle memory. The brain seeks meaning through patterns. As we receive information from our senses, we need prior knowledge and a system for organizing the information so we may assign meaning to it. When information comes in, our brain searches around for existing knowledge.

If the new information is something that activates a previously used neural network, then there's a match. This is referred to as pattern recognition and is of tremendous value in enhancing memory.

The strategies discussed above all help create patterns. Additionally, the use of music and rhyming creates a pattern or organization for the information. Using music to review concepts can be very powerful. Music also supports relaxation, creativity, and motivation. Students can create their own songs or raps, or they may use existing songs to review concepts and facts. It is also fun to change the words to a common song. In the example below, the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" is used to sing about the importance of paying attention to a period at the end of a sentence Richards, , p.

Humor and silliness are valuable to use along with other strategies because our brains prefer to remember unusual information. A short sentence or a sequence of letters can be used to aid in the memory, with or without pictures or actual items. Remember, it is critical that your student understands and knows the information prior to using these mnemonics, the purpose of which is to serve as a trigger to bring up information.

Following are examples of useful mnemonics. The main steps in long division: d ivide, m ultiply, s ubtract, b ring down.

The main steps in long division: d ivide, m ultiply, s ubtract, c ompare, b ring down. The colors of the rainbow in order: r ed, o range, y ellow, g reen, b lue, i ndigo, v iolet.

The sequence of directions, going clockwise: N orth, E ast, S outh, W est. Henry Winkler has written several books describing his experiences as a student. The books are available on audio tape, and students who struggle gain much by listening to the tapes.

Hearing someone else, especially a famous person, describe frustrations with learning helps to validate students' own experiences. The books also describe lead character Hank Zipzer's many strengths and gifts. Students who struggle with reading benefit much more from listening to books such as this than from reading them.

Hank is in the process of trying to write an essay for class. He complains,. Hank doesn't need to hit his head.

He needs someone to explain to him how memory works and why he is struggling. He needs demystification. For example, someone might say to him, "Your memory is like a closet with a sticking door. It's hard for you to remember things in school because the door keeps getting stuck.

We have to figure out how to make the door open more easily! The way to help Hank, and other students facing a similar challenge, open the door to his closet is by using the tools in the RIP Toolbox.

Another book for students that describes learning challenges and the confusing mix of gifts and struggles is Eli, The Boy Who Hated to Write: Understanding Dysgraphia. In the conclusion, Eli ponders,. Sponsored Links About these ads Consumer Tips. Rehearsal can be elaborative or maintenance. Elaborative is when concise parts are opened to an extent to find connections and links for meaningful expression while maintenance is just stitched to repetitive rehearsals Shreds of evidence of consolidation It is vital to state that conscious memories are formed through consolidation which is initially stored in the storehouses namely the hippocampus and neocortex.

The historical aspect of memory consolidation Quintillian expressed his views in relation to consolidation. Working of Memory Consolidation Process The memory consolidation works by the process of potentiation. Standard Model of Synaptic Consolidation This shows a discrete referral to changes in protein synthesis linked to the process of consolidation. Multiple Trace Theory This theory is founded on the basis to put forward the discrimination between the two memory types: episodic and semantic memory.

Neurocomputational Models of Consolidation It states how the purpose of consolidation is revealed when there is knowledge acquisition at the greater front. Speeding Up Memory Consolidation Process Rehearsal and strategic learning can improve the accuracy with which the short term memory is consolidated into the long term. System Consolidation It is stated in the very beginning of the article that the memory reorientation can be seen in such cases.

It is the reshifting of the memory Sleep Consolidation 5 different sleep stages are different in their EEG patterns. Organization of Information It depends on every individual what marks does he or she needs to create to pull out the consistent organization of information within their heads. Mnemonics help to reflect the memory at a better pace and allow sound integration to the other associated memory counterparts. Reminders are external aids the person might seek to help him remember certain tasks easily.

Like setting up an alarm note on the phone or jotting down things in the diary. Forcing Function which allows signaling or link creation to certain non-vital things which you do remember as a part of other vital information.

Retrieval This can further be broadly classified into two categories. Importance of Consolidation Memory exercise is what consolidation refers to pinpointing to the fact of encoding and retrieval as a whole.

Stages Of Memory Consolidation Certain stages are linked to memory consolidation but each stage is linked to the existence of the time since the memory is incorporated into its existence.

Modulation of Consolidated Memory This adaptive function takes time to recruit information and to consolidate it into the long term memory. Studying Memory Consolidation Certain neuroimaging methods help to study the process of consolidation. Summary Memory consolidation involves converting short term memories into long term memories. The consolidation process involves three steps of encoding, storage, and retrieval. Encoding is the modification in the sensory inputs so that they can be stored.

Storage involves retaining the modified sensory information after encoding has been done. Retrieval is accessing the stored information after some time. Memory consolidation takes place in the hippocampus and neocortex of the brain. These synaptic pathways can be strengthened by rehearsal or retrieval of memory again and again.

Multiple trace theory explains how episodic and semantic memories are interlinked. References Dudai, Y. Annual Review of Psychology. PMID Bramham, C. Progress in Neurobiology. McGaugh, J. Scoville, W. PMC Milner, B. Tronson, N. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. Spencer, J. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. Maren, S.