Myths about Memory
To understand how to improve your memory, let’s first look at what we know about how memory works.
Although scientists keep learning new things about how our brains function, author Kenneth L. Higbee2 suggests some myths about memory (some you might have heard, and even believe). Here are five of these memory myths and what experts say about them:
| Myth | Reality |
| Some people have bad memories. | Although the memory ability you are born with is different from that of others, nearly everyone can improve his or her ability to remember and recall. Improving your concentration would certainly benefit your ability to remember! |
| Some people have photographic memories. | Some individuals have truly exceptional memories, but these abilities result more often from learned strategies, interest, and practice than from the natural ability to remember. |
| Memory benefits from long hours of practice. | Experts believe that practice often improves memory, but they argue that the way you practice is more important than how long you practice. For all practical purposes, the storage capacity of your memory is unlimited. In fact, the more you learn about a particular topic, the easier it is to learn even more. How you organize the information is more important than the quantity. |
| People use only 10 percent of their brain power. | No one knows exactly how much of our brain we actually use. However, most researchers believe that we all have far more mental ability than we actually use. |
YOUR TURN > ON YOUR OWN
You can use many strategies to improve your memory. For example, many memory games are available that you can play for a few minutes every day; some of them are absolutely free and can be accessed online or on your mobile device as an app. For example, Lumosity is a free app that helps you improve your memory by doing daily exercises.