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What is
neurobics? Does it improve
memory?
Just as aerobics, a form
of physical exercises
keeps your body fit and
healthy, neurobics, a form
of exercises, involving
the sensory organs keeps
the brain fit, healthy and
alive.
It is a known fact that
learning takes place when
brain cells make new
connection with one
another. Earlier, it was
believed that our brain
cells stop making new
connections after a
certain age. \but latest
research has found that
brain cells grow even in
advanced age.
Since a large area of the
brain is assigned to
process sensory
information, neurobics
consists of exercises that
involve the sensory
organs. These exercises
help form new connections
among the brain cells. A
neurobic exercise must
involve one or more senses
in an unfamiliar way.
Neurobics improves all
mental faculties such as
memory, learning,
creativity etc.
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Does memory
pills improve memory?
“Don’t count on memory
pills to protect or
improve your memory,”
according to the Nonprofit
Centre for Science in the
Public Interest.
Choline is a neuro
chemical that helps brain
cells transmit signals
between each other. But
studies show that in
supplement form, choline
doesn’t even reach the
brain.
Sime memory pills contain
B-vitamins as B-vitamins
can lower homocysteine
levels in the blood. High
homocysteine levels could
lead to poor cognition.
But 17 studies have shown
that B-vitamins have no
effects on memory.
Another herb Ginkgo Biloba
is included in memory
pills for its ability to
increase blood flow to the
brain. But recent
research shows that ginkgo
biloba takers could score
better in just one of the
14 tests on brain
functions.
Memory pills can cost up
to $70 per month. “The
claims by companies
manufacturing memory pills
aren’t justifiable – and
neither is the expense,”
says David Schardt, senior
nutritionist at the Centre
for Science in the Public
Interest.
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Does multi
vitamin supplements
improve memory?
Research says no.
A US study involving 1000
people in their 70s who
were given 400 IU of
vitamin E, 500 mg of
vitamin C and 25000 IU of
beta carotene daily for a
period of 6 years, proved
that the volunteers did
not perform better in
memory and concentration
tests compared to another
group who were given a
placebo.
Another UK study involving
10,000 people aged 40 to
80 who took a combination
of 600 IU of vitamin E,
250 mg of vitamin C and
33000 IU of beta carotene
daily for 5 years proved
that these people are as
likely to show mental
decline as 10,000 others
who were given a placebo.
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It is claimed
that we learn better while
sleeping. Is it true?
The Committee which
studied in detail, the
techniques for the
advancement of human
performance has
categorically stated that
information presented
during deep sleep is not
retained upon awakening.
There are thousands of
incidents where thieves
had broken into houses and
had stolen valuables when
the occupants were fast
asleep. The thefts had
been noticed only when
they found the valuables
missing.
But what we learn just
before sleep has a better
chance of recall as there
is no distraction and
dilution after the
learning.
Similarly what we learn
immediately after waking
up also has a better
chance of recall as the
previous day’s learning
has either been absorbed
or faded away.
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Are
subliminal self-help tapes
really effective?
Subliminal tapes are
recorded with ordinary
classical music, but they
contain some embedded
self-help messages that
cannot be detected
consciously.
In a study conducted by
Pratkanis, volunteers were
recruited to test the
effectiveness of
subliminal tapes. They
were asked to take tests
to measure their memory
and self-esteem. Then they
were given either
self-esteem improvement
tapes (The message ‘I
radiate an inner sense of
confidence’ was recorded
behind background
classical music) or memory
improvement tapes (The
message ‘My ability to
remember and recall is
increasing daily’ was
recorded behind background
classical music).
The intriguing aspect of
this study is that only
half of the volunteers
were given the correctly
labeled tapes. One fourth
of the volunteers were
given self-esteem
improvement tapes
mislabeled as memory
improvement tapes and one
fourth of the volunteers
were given memory
improvement tapes
mislabeled as self-esteem
improvement tapes.
After 5 weeks of listening
to the tapes, the
volunteers took tests to
measure their memory and
self-esteem. The tests
showed that the tapes had
no appreciable effect,
positive or negative on
either self-esteem or on
memory.
But the volunteers who
received self-esteem
improvement tapes and the
volunteers who received
memory improvement tapes
mislabeled as self-esteem
improvement tapes felt
that their self-esteem had
risen! Similarly,
volunteers who received
memory improvement tapes
and volunteers who
received self-esteem
improvement tapes
mislabeled as memory
improvement tapes, felt
that their memory has
improved!
‘What you expect is what
you believe, but not
necessarily what you get’
is once again proved by
Pratkanis’ study.
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Is fat good
or bad for the memory?
Good fat is good for the
memory and bad fat is bad
for the memory.
What is good fat and what
is bad fat? Good fat is
unsaturated fat (both
polyunsaturated fat and
mono unsaturated fat)
found mostly in nuts and
seeds and in some fruits
such as avocados and
olives.
Bad fat is saturated fat
found mo0stly in meat and
processed dairy products
such as cheese and butter.
The good fat found in nuts
and seeds remains good
only as long as it is raw.
The moment they are
processed, the good fat
turns into bad fat.
Many studies have proved
that people who go on a
strict dieting regime and
avoid fat completely,
experience a sharp decline
in their ability to
recall.
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Does smoking
affect memory?
Smoking affects long- term
memory as well as
everyday- memory
significantly.
Researchers from five
Universities, Newcastle,
Northumbria, Teesside,
Wales and Westminster,
conducted a research
testing the long-term and
everyday-memory of smokers
and non-smokers. The
research was conducted by
Dr. Tom Heffernan, Human
Cognitive Neuroscience
unit at the Northumbria
University.
The survey found that
heavy smokers reported a
22% weaker memory when
compared to non-smokers
and 12% weaker memory when
compared to light
smokers.
People who smoke between
one and four cigarettes a
week were classified as
light smokers and people
who smoke more that 15
cigarettes a week were
classified as heavy
smokers.
This is one more reason
for smokers to quit
smoking.
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Is there
anything known as memory
etiquette?
Memory etiquette is
guidelines recommended
while judging or
responding to others’
memory. Undiplomatic
expression of our response
can severely affect our
relationships with them.
It could also compel them
to wait for an opportunity
to point out our memory
lapses.
By following these
guidelines, unpleasant
situations can be avoided.
-
Ignore memory lapses, if
they are trivial
-
Do not point out others’
memory lapses unless
they request you to do
so
-
Be polite while
correcting others’
memory mistakes
-
Ignore repeated recall
of same events by old
people
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What are
memory contrivances?
There are 6 types of
memory contrivances (plots
designed with evil
intentions). They are
Memory praise, Memory
insult, Memory
responsibility, Memory
non-cooperation, Memory
alibi and Memory fraud.
Memory praise is praising
excessively for a
relatively minor memory
feat. Memory insult is
pointing out to relatively
minor memory mistakes.
Memory responsibility is
insisting that remembering
a particular information
is the responsibility of
the person at the
receiving end. Memory
non-cooperation is refusal
to help someone remember
some information. Memory
alibi are excuses made by
others for one’s memory
failure. Memory fraud is
when someone’s memory is
called a mistake, even
though the person who
calls it a mistake knows
well that it is not a
mistake.
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