Memory Improvement Techniques - How to Get a Photographic Memory

Have you ever wondered how certain people have a razor sharp photographic memory, while others can't remember what they ate for breakfast? While it is true that a select few people are blessed with an exceptional memory, most people have an average memory at best. But there is a specific path you can take to achieve a photographic memory...

How A Photographic Memory Works

You may have seen demonstrations of a photographic memory, usually on late night television. Typically, a person demonstrates their exceptional memory skills by reciting cards from a deck in perfect order, or some similar feat.

And while it may seem like magic or a trick, it's not. Some people do have photographic memories and it is almost always due to specific training methods. Happily, those training methods are not terribly expensive or time consuming, and are well within reach for just about everyone.

A photographic memory is a function of the brain and how it processes visual information. The brain is able to store images, or even words on a page, and has the ability to recall the information on demand. It is a highly developed skill, but actually, all of us have this exact same skill to a degree.

Our memory is a function of the brain and all five of our senses. We are able to remember and recall information based on images, sounds, taste, feel, and smell. Unfortunately, as it relates to memory, it is not enough to have an acute sense of smell or perfect vision. The brain needs to work in conjunction with the senses to develop memory skills.

How To Achieve A Photographic Memory

In order to acquire a photographic memory, your vision and your brain will need to work together seamlessly. Perfect vision is not required, but rather, a highly proficient brain.

Whether you want a photographic memory or merely improve your memory, you need to train your brain to memorize. There are some simple exercises you can do, like card tricks and crossword puzzles. These activities help stimulate the brain but they are not long term solutions. The reason is because they are helping you with a specific activity versus training your brain to retrieve information on demand.

In order to teach and train your brain to respond on demand, you need to train it, just as you would a muscle. We recommend a brain training program that utilizes a building block approach. After all, retaining information is complex, so a training program should be administered in bite size pieces, as it were.

A typical brain training program is computer bases, usually in DVD format or better yet accessible on demand. Normally, they last about twelve weeks and can be done on your own time at your own pace.

Many aspects of the brain training program will focus on spatial relations and visual recall. The activities are fun and interactive, allowing you to enjoy the training while enhancing your memory skills. For example, you may be asked to identify a series of shapes and then place them in the order you saw them.

Another activity might involve associating shapes with words or shapes with objects, which enhances your ability to process visual images in orderly fashion. As you might imagine, the activities start out relatively simple and then build in complexity as your skill set increases.

Over a three month period, or however long it takes you to complete the training, you will notice a significant improvement in your memory, no matter your age. If you think about it, memory is a skill just like any other skill, like playing the piano or running a marathon. Highly developed skills take practice and training.

So, after completing a brain training program, will you have a photographic memory? Quite possibly, although it will likely require more training and practice. But one thing is for sure. Your ability to recall names, dates, directions, and faces will drastically improve.

Summary

Acquiring a photographic memory is a skill that is a direct result of training your brain to remember images and retrieve them on demand. To do this, consider participating in a brain training program specifically designed to enhance your memory skills. These programs are affordable, self paced, and utilize a building block approach to build your skill set.

New Ways to Improve Your Memory

Everybody has memory problems, especially when we get older. Birthdays and appointments sometimes slip our minds. Sometimes you might find yourself in mid-sentence and suddenly forget what you were going to say. These random acts of forgetfulness are normal and usually just mean that you are tired or stressed. The good news is that some recent research has uncovered some simple strategies that you can use to boost your memory.

• Use Epsom salts in your bath. Epsom salts are loaded with magnesium. Magnesium contains a compound that strenghthens synapses and nerve connections in the brain. By raising the level of magnesium in your bloodstream, you can combat memory loss and enhance your ability to learn. If you can take a bath with epsom salts, the magnesium will get soaked up through your pores, allowing magnesium to enter your system faster than if you took a magnesium supplement.
• Take vitamin B3. According to medical experts at Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital, vitamin B3 (also known as niacin) can restore brain function to folks who have had strokes, as well as promote the growth of new blood vessels in the brain. They recommend that you take 14 mg. of magnesium supplements each day or eat beets, brewer's yeast, salmon, tuna or peanuts--all of which are loaded with magnesium.
• Watch a sad movie. In a recent study, researchers found that by making yourself temporarily sad you can become more focused and attentive and can recall past events more clearly. Apparently making yourself sad by, for example, watching a sad movie, gives your brain a memory jolt.
• Chew gum. Recent research by the Japanese suggests that the act of chewing increases heart rate and therefore sends more memory-boosting oxygen to the brain. But, if you do chew gum, make sure that you chew sugarless gum for the sake of your teeth.
• Eat avocados. Avocados contain oleic acid which, during the digestion process, can trigger memory-enhancing signals in the brain, resulting in better long-term memory.