Assess Your Strengths

How Might You Improve Your Memory?

Chapter 7. How Might You Improve Your Memory?

Intro

How Might You Improve Your Memory?
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      Play this brief video introduction from one of your authors, Nathan DeWall.

      Test Yourself

      test_memory

      Let’s say you are interviewing for your dream job. The day before your interview, you're given the names of the people you will meet. Click “Next” to see their names.

      Your Score

      The correct names are:

      • Christine
      • Craig
      • Tracey
      • Trish
      • Armend
      • Jordan
      • Romena

      You may not have been ready for this memory test. Nonetheless, you were able to correctly identify {model.total} name.

      model.total == 1

      You may not have been ready for this memory test. Nonetheless, you were able to correctly identify {model.total} names.

      model.total > 1

      You may not have been ready for this memory test. You were not able to correctly identify any names.

      model.total == 0

      George Miller (1956) proposed that we can store about seven bits of information (give or take two) in our memory. Even brief distractions make it difficult to retain what we just memorized, however. After you initially saw the names of your interviewers, did your mind wander? Did you check your phone or listen to music? These small distractions can reduce our ability to remember.

      Build This Strength

      build_memory

      Would you like to improve your memory? We’ve seen that mnemonics—using vivid imagery and organizational devices—can help us encode information. Science writer Joshua Foer (2011) used mnemonics to help him improve his memory. The result? He won the U.S. Memory Championship.

      Let’s give this memory strategy a try!

      Imagine another job interview scenario, where you will meet a new set of people. To memorize their names, first think of a familiar place. It might be where you currently live, a work or school building, or the home where you grew up. Place each new item you are memorizing somewhere within that familiar place.

      Ready?

      QUIZ

      Are you ready for the Quiz? Demonstrate and reinforce your understanding by answering the following questions.

      1. We can keep about blank bits of information stored in our short-term memory (plus or minus two).





      2. Most people can improve their memory.



      3. To improve our encoding ability, we can





      4. The memory strategy that uses vivid imagery and organizational devices is called





      5. Which of the following would NOT help you improve memory?





      Correct answers
      1. c. seven
      2. True
      3. b. decrease environmental distractions.
      4. d. mnemonics.
      5. b. Regularly multi-tasking while studying