How to improve your memory?

Started by uclaussr
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uclaussr

uclaussr

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In a couple of months the class of 2015 will start our first year of med school. We will have a gazillion things to memorize, and learn, like we'd never seen before. What are you guys doing to improve your memory? ARe there certain foods we should be eating?
 
uclaussr said:
In a couple of months the class of 2015 will start our first year of med school. We will have a gazillion things to memorize, and learn, like we'd never seen before. What are you guys doing to improve your memory? ARe there certain foods we should be eating?
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I've heard that eating almonds improves memory. I don't know if there's any real scientific merit to this claim, but my parents gave me a handful to eat every day as a kid.
 
Not much you can do biologically. Reduce stress as much as possible since cortisol shrinks your hippocampus (where memories are stored). Aerobic exercise also promotes the birth of new neurons in your hippocampus. Eat a well balanced diet, making sure to get your omega-3's and b-vitamins. And make sure you get a high-quality sleep everyday, this affects your memory/intelligence more than anything else.

But I think the most improvement will come from improving your studying techniques. Try using Anki, http://ankisrs.net/, an intelligent flashcard program.
 
Well, most research on omega-3 shows that it increases white matter in the brain, thereby increasing the speed of transmission. So it can theoretically improve working memory, but it doesn't raise the total amount of information you can retain. It's still good to take though because it has numerous other health benefits, which can have indirect positive effects on your neurological function.
 
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muhali3 said:
Not much you can do biologically. Reduce stress as much as possible since cortisol shrinks your hippocampus (where memories are stored). Aerobic exercise also promotes the birth of new neurons in your hippocampus. Eat a well balanced diet, making sure to get your omega-3's and b-vitamins. And make sure you get a high-quality sleep everyday, this affects your memory/intelligence more than anything else.

But I think the most improvement will come from improving your studying techniques. Try using Anki, http://ankisrs.net/, an intelligent flashcard program.
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High levels of cortisol inhibit memory retention, but moderate levels of cortisol actually can enhance it. To the OP, I think the best way to improve memory is to make sure you have a good, thorough understanding of the material--rather than strictly memorizing facts. This will allow you to find consistencies, and put ideas together with less information.
 
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rhcarolina said:
I've heard that eating almonds improves memory. I don't know if there's any real scientific merit to this claim, but my parents gave me a handful to eat every day as a kid.
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you'll probably get cyanide poisoning before memory improvement...
 
You can use techniques like the Roman Room or Major System, but most efficiency in studying will come from proper review techniques and proper note-taking.
 
There are no shortcuts, bro. Unless you are amazing and brilliant, which at this level there are some who are...it just takes time and effort. In the medical field, you will be learning for the rest of your life...and many of the foods mentioned here are probably more tangentially linked to a slowing of age-related memory loss than pre-med/med student related memory/cognitive gain.

sugarcrash56 said:
You can use techniques like the Roman Room or Major System, but most efficiency in studying will come from proper review techniques and proper note-taking.
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure about "proper note taking" ...everything you need to know is usually in the syllabus and if not there, than textbooks or wikipedia.
 
Zedor said:
High levels of cortisol inhibit memory retention, but moderate levels of cortisol actually can enhance it. To the OP, I think the best way to improve memory is to make sure you have a good, thorough understanding of the material--rather than strictly memorizing facts. This will allow you to find consistencies, and put ideas together with less information.
Click to expand...

my thoughts, exactly! this is how I study and it seems to have worked well. 👍
 
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Quality REM sleep + Exercise + Almonds = all you need.

Okay, that's not all you need, but those are among the essentials.
 
SFO-IST said:
I hear that sleeping with magnets imbedded in your pillow does wonders....
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miraclesicptrolling.jpg
 
Exercise + meditation + Fish Oil + Blueberries + Bacopa Monieri, Choline Supplementation with CDP-Choline, nicotine to name a few that are backed by evidence
 
uclaussr said:
In a couple of months the class of 2015 will start our first year of med school. We will have a gazillion things to memorize, and learn, like we'd never seen before. What are you guys doing to improve your memory? ARe there certain foods we should be eating?
Click to expand...

Brain steroids.

Srs: Mnemonics are always awesome. Also, try to relate everything you learn to prior knowledge rather than straight up memorizing.

Also get a work out. Not only will it help you with memorizing but it'll give you a lot more energy to get through the day.
 
Promise not a promo plug, but I've found the exercises on lumosity.com has increased my cognitive prowess tremendously. As a disclaimer, you won't suddenly tap into some inner brilliance, but your mind will be sharper and faster. I think they still offer a free (no credit card required) 3 day trial.
 
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amphetamines are very useful drugs, but do absolutely nothing to increase memory. They increase dopamine action from the substantia nigra in the midbrain to the reticular formation components in the thalamus and thereby modulate attentiveness and activation of higher cortical processes. Most declarative memory takes place in the hippocampus and parahippocampal structures; these being modulated by ACh. Thus, supplements that increase ACh (like CDP-choline precursors or AChase inhibitors like H. serrata) may increase memory consolidation. Also, lots of repetition (like via notecards) helps to strengthen hippocampus neuronal connections. Just like building muscle, the more you use and reuse a neuronal pathway, the better and stronger that pathway becomes.
 
3 weeks from my last day of M1. Some things ive learned this year


1. Most things in the body happen for a reason. Memorization is dumb. If you understand why something is happening you will understand it more effectively. Once you get into systems (we have 3 systems first year in my school) this is PARAMOUNT. I rocked cardiology because I am a very mechanically oriented hands on person. Think about normal anatomy and how various stresses placed on this system...in terms of pathology...are going to shift that homeostasis, and what compensatory mechanisms are taking place. Dont just memorize that tricuspid and mitral regurg murmurs are holosystolic. Understand that they begin at S1 because the ventricles are pushing against closed AV valves and end at S2 because that is the beginning of diastole and ventricular pressure drops off.

2. Look for commonalities in names in pharm. Dont memorize each name just know that all ACE inhibitors end in "pril," except for losartan which really isnt an ace anyway.

3. As others mentioned repetition is HUGE. One thing that helps me memorize is reading small chunks and then repeating those over and over until I have obtained all the info I have. Mentally quiz yourself frequently. In the shower? Quiz time. Driving somewhere? Quiz time. The actual time I spend at my desk in the books isnt that long. However the time I am actually thinking about school stuff while going about my day is pretty significant.

4. Mnemonics are great for lists. Adverse drug reactions are one perfect example.

5. Get Netters flashcards for anatomy. They are only like 25 bucks IIRC and they are AWESOME. As in I dont think I ever opened my Grants atlas all year. You can bring them anywhere and just have an impromptu study session.

6.Stop going to class. If you have webstreamed lectures and no mandatory attendance that is. If you know that you would be able to sit down at your desk and do the work self study style..do that. Our software lets us speed up lectures at up to 4x, and pause and restart lectures which is great. If lecturers prepared good handouts to go with their lectures dont sit there and waste 2 hours listening. Just read those handouts. The above assumes you arent the type who needs to physically hear someone speak the information to you.

7.Figure out your study style EARLY. This is like the ONLY thing I would advocate doing this summer. Just dick around and get a game plan together with the info you already know about your learning style. Info comes FAST in med school and it NEVER stops coming. I got a masters before med school so figured this crap out in grad school. I STILL see some of my classmates and friends struggling with keeping pace with all the info.

Alright that is all. Hopefully this helps at least one person! Good luck in the fall!
 
Like someone has states before, repetition is the key for improving memory. The problem with some is that they don't ever move the info from short term memory to long term memory. The best way to do that is to repeat the information and also find a way to connect it to something meaningful. For example, my anatomy teacher made us memorize these strange sayings that go with the bones. Believe it or not, everyone in the class passed with 100.
 
Yonko Shanks said:
Like someone has states before, repetition is the key for improving memory. The problem with some is that they don't ever move the info from short term memory to long term memory. The best way to do that is to repeat the information and also find a way to connect it to something meaningful. For example, my anatomy teacher made us memorize these strange sayings that go with the bones. Believe it or not, everyone in the class passed with 100.
Click to expand...

The toe bone connected to the heel bone,
The heel bone connected to the foot bone,
The foot bone connected to the leg bone...

😀
 
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Yonko Shanks said:
Like someone has states before, repetition is the key for improving memory. The problem with some is that they don't ever move the info from short term memory to long term memory. The best way to do that is to repeat the information and also find a way to connect it to something meaningful. For example, my anatomy teacher made us memorize these strange sayings that go with the bones. Believe it or not, everyone in the class passed with 100.
Click to expand...

I think you need to share these mnemonics *nod*
 
Yonko Shanks said:
Like someone has states before, repetition is the key for improving memory. The problem with some is that they don't ever move the info from short term memory to long term memory. The best way to do that is to repeat the information and also find a way to connect it to something meaningful. For example, my anatomy teacher made us memorize these strange sayings that go with the bones. Believe it or not, everyone in the class passed with 100.
Click to expand...

I just studied my teachers anatomy.
 
jesse120 said:
http://www.amazon.com/Moonwalking-Einstein-Science-Remembering-Everything/dp/159420229X was a pretty good book about how a journalist trained for a year and won the US memory championship. I'm not sure exactly how useful the techniques he describes will be for med school, but they are very interesting. He tries his best to explain what makes a memory stick for the long term.
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Saw this post this morning, bought it on Kindle and am now on chapter 3. Fascinating stuff. I'm mentally strolling along my street, seeing the sphinx holding a card, with rugby players next door. After that I see a pile of Ford toruses before another sphinx. Visualisation kicks!
 
i'd gamble 8 bucks and give this a try...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Memory-Bo...43068153&sr=8-2&keywords=harry+lorayne+memory

The Memory Book: The Classic Guide to Improving Your Memory at Work, at School, and at Play [Kindle Edition]

you can also get paperback for a little more. i prefer the e-book since i have the ipad and knidle. seems like you have to be willing to set aside some time for these tricks as a hobby. the stuff they say makes great sense to me.
 
learn the google search algorithm and apply it to your brain

on the real, i like to eat while i study. i reward myself for tackling sections by allowing myself more food. goal --> reward --> more goals --> MORE REWARDs !

Eat carrots and drink lots of water too probably.
 
mmmmd said:
learn the google search algorithm and apply it to your brain

on the real, i like to eat while i study. i reward myself for tackling sections by allowing myself more food. goal --> reward --> more goals --> MORE REWARDs !
Click to expand...

Haha, in med school that strategy would probably make you obese.
 
I read a book on mind maps that has helped me to understand concepts better. Still working on the memory part.
 
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