Do more with less memory

Chapter 3 What exactly is memory (2)
In order to remember certain information, we often need to dig deep into the memory bank and let the information surface.However, we often disregard the method and throw all the information left and right in a disorganized manner, making a mess.

In fact, this function of the brain is very miraculous, it can automatically respond all the time, just like a car can move forward very smoothly as long as it is put in the second gear... Let us use the following metaphor to explain a bit.Everything that has been remembered is bounded by threads; in order to recall something, the correct thread must be found.These threads are actually sources of associations: the more we store in memory, the easier it is for us to find the right threads to associate with new information!In addition, if these threads are classified according to different levels, once we cannot find a suitable thread, we only need to find a suitable level, and the problem will be solved.

Therefore, to train our memory, we should know how to observe and pay attention; we must be full of curiosity about the world around us, be good at paying attention, and be good at listening; Find solutions to problems.

For many years—it can be said that since we have compulsory education, generations of parents have passed on many wrong ideas about memory to their children, which undoubtedly hinders the development of memory for most people objectively.Therefore, it is necessary for us to clarify some misunderstandings about memory.

1. There is no inherent difference in memory.

One point of view is that there are innate differences in people's memory. Some people are born with good memory, while others are born with poor memory.

This is a completely wrong view.

In fact, the human memory function is innate, and everyone has the gift of memory, because it is an inherent function of our human brain, and there is no inherent distinction between good and bad.

The memory function of the brain starts from the moment the baby is born, and it works continuously every minute, day after day, year after year.We memorize countless and varied things in our daily lives without ever realizing that our brains are constantly engaged in memory activity.Whether we are on the go or lounging, whether we are waiting for the bus or getting ready for bed, images, thoughts and ideas are constantly running through our minds.

What is this constant flow of images in the mind if not the intertwined chains of thoughts and memories produced in our memory?

Moreover, most of our behaviors (such as writing a diary, lighting a gas stove, etc.) are derived from some kind of training we have received-our brains have remembered certain information at a certain moment, and are always ready to use it again Emerging when we need it.The memory function itself can continuously obtain information, store the information, and then reappear when necessary, without us needing to do anything deliberately, because the brain can automatically activate the "memory" machine.

This extremely complex machine can always run automatically, as long as we don't want to let it go, we can give full play to our own initiative and make it run more efficiently.This function is as magical as a person's natural talent for music or painting... However, their potential is very huge, and they need to be excavated to show their golden brilliance!Whether we can fully tap its potential, let it play a greater role, and bring us more happiness and happiness depends entirely on ourselves.

2. Mechanical repetition ≠ good memory.

In school, kids are mechanically repeating things over and over again in order to remember them (like memorizing multiplication tables and the like).The ones who are praised as good students are those who work hard to recite what they have learned and parrot the lesson the next morning!People who can't do this are called lazy students and are considered people with "poor memory".However, in fact, at the age of 8-10, it is easy for children to memorize all the information they receive mechanically, although they may not understand the true meaning of the information at all.And for children between the ages of 4 and 5, they may not even need to repeat, they can remember!
People often think that good memories are due to the good habit of repeating mechanically-even though we don't understand what we are repeating at all, and the same is true for adults.Moreover, people mistakenly believe that such mechanical memory is contradictory to logical reasoning and analysis: "If you repeat mechanically like a machine, you must not be able to think." According to this statement, we divide people into two categories : One type is people with a particularly good memory but not very smart, and the other type is people with a very high IQ but a very poor memory.

There is no more misleading point of view than this.Indeed, as we said before, before the age of 8-10, the brain grows very rapidly, and it will swallow all the information presented to it without discrimination.Children at this age are not yet able to discern and choose which things need to be remembered and which do not.However, once adolescence has passed, although people's mechanical memory ability still exists, it becomes more and more difficult to memorize things by mechanical repetition, and the effect becomes worse and worse.During early adolescence, the method of associative memory becomes active—often before children know how to remember in this way, they already have this ability.Association is an intellectual activity: the higher our "IQ", the better our memory.

3. Aging ≠ memory aging.

There is also the idea that people lose their memory slowly as we age, and that there is nothing we can do about it but let it go.

Thousands of brain cells die every day, and brain cells cannot regenerate, so once these brain cells responsible for memory function are gone, we can't remember anything.

This idea is completely wrong!Knowing only a little superficial scientific knowledge is more terrible than complete ignorance.Indeed, from the moment we are born, a seemingly staggering number of brain cells are disappearing every day.But we have an astonishingly large number of brain cells — all of which we are born with — enough to help us discover new laws of physics like Einstein, even if we lived to be 120. Let us recite Cao Xueqin's famous work "A Dream of Red Mansions" from beginning to end.

Indeed, as we start to age, our memories seem to get worse.We're always forgetting things, like we can't remember anything, and we keep saying the same thing because we don't remember saying it.However, all these conditions are not caused by the deterioration of the brain's memory function.Scientific experiments have indeed shown that people's memory function will degenerate faster and faster with age.But the bottom line is that what keeps fading as we age is our level of attention and interest in everything around us—not because of the degeneration of brain cells, but because we psychologically let it be Faded... It is this interest, this curiosity about life, that slows down the action of our brains, not the aging and impairment of bodily functions.As we grow older, we lose interest and curiosity in life.In fact, we can easily avoid this!It's true that we experience many changes as we age, but these changes are definitely not a decline in brain function!

Psychologist Herman Ebhaus wrote a book "About the Forgetting Curve", which states that if we learn something today and don't review it within 24 hours, we will forget a big part of it. part; the next day we will forget some, but not as much as the first day; but the good news is that when we review, we will recall the first learning scene, of course we will forget, but the second time, Will not forget as fast as the first time.The more we use the knowledge we learn, the deeper we remember it; the more we don't use it, the faster we forget it.There are many reasons for forgetting, not being the most important one.

At this time, we set up memory barriers for ourselves.But it is not beyond comprehension that there are obstacles beyond our control.

1. Challenge anxiety.

Our memory declines when we are anxious.It's understandable that you can't remember where you put things one day because one of your family members has surgery the next day.When you stop worrying, your normal memory returns.

2. Challenge frustration.

This is another emotional factor that weakens memory.If you're grieving the death of a close friend or colleague, it's inevitable that you will forget.

3. Challenge yourself in a hurry.

Hurrying is often a major cause of forgetting.Think about what you are doing, not what you are going to do. Being thoughtful and organized often saves time.

4. Challenge the tension.

Anger, rage, stress, enthusiasm can all affect our memory.

They temporarily stop the brain, at which point you should take a break, drink a glass of water, or do some exercise to refresh your memory.

5. Challenge distractions.

The distraction of new things may cause forgetting.This does not mean that your memory bank has a limited ability to accept new information.It is not how much new knowledge we learn will affect memory, but what we have learned will interfere with memory.Meeting someone with the same name as a friend, learning French and learning English, will cause interference.

6. Challenge memory-destroying chemicals.

Caffeine, cigarettes, alcohol, etc. all affect our perception and judgment.Whether it's a stimulant like caffeine or cigarettes, or an inhibitor like alcohol, it can interfere with your ability to recall information.These substances can damage brain cells and cause permanent memory decline.Some long-term drinkers find their memory improves once they stop.Reducing the intake of these substances can help improve memory.Older people may not recover memories effectively because their memories have been damaged by these items over the years.Caffeine is also a substance that can impair memory.

At the best of times, our brains are in a state of being both alert and relaxed, and caffeine keeps us alert and keeps us from relaxing.Older people refresh themselves by drinking tea or coffee, which also has certain benefits.

(End of this chapter)