Archive for March, 2011

Memory loss and Emotional Disorder

Memory loss and Emotional DisorderMemory loss and emotional disorder is correlated in many ways as both are regulated by the brain. A person may suffer from major emotional set back, which can lead to certain disorders and consequently cause loss of memory. People suffering from emotional disorders often find it hard to get organized, to learn new things, to memorize and concentrate on things. This is because the emotional stress affects parts of the brain that helps in improving the memory process.

Know how Emotional Disorder affects Memory Loss

  • Emotional disorder can be triggered by several types of traumatic experiences in life. It has been seen that women who have been sexually molested, raped or abused can suffer from emotion disorder. This traumatic experience can affect several parts of the brain, resulting in social impairment, memory loss and several other disorders.
  • Some recent studies have shown that people who have gone through the traumatic experience of childhood abuse or war can experience a change in the hippocampus, the center of all memory related activities, which in turn causes impaired memory.
  • Since hippocampus regulates learning skill and concentration or memory part, a negative change in that due to emotional disorder initiates several memory related problems. A child who has emotional disorder can exhibit less interest and skill in learning and memorizing new things.
  • Emotional trauma can also lead to intrusive memory, fragmentation of memory, dissociation, pathological emotions and memory disorders, all of which play an important role in memory loss.
  • In case of emotional trauma, a large amount of stress hormone – Cortisol, is released. This can affect the brain and damage the CA3 neurons, which in turn affect the hippocampus. No doubt, memory loss becomes a part of the emotional disorder that becomes the aftermath of the traumatic incident.
  • Once the hippocampus is damaged, the patients cannot form new memories effectively. This leads to their inability to learn properly.
  • Attention and concentration level can also drop as a result of emotional disorder.

Emotional disorder can affect the brain in more ways than normally visible. However, in the long run, the affects like memory loss will become conspicuous.

 

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Method for Remembering Names and FacesGetting introduced to some people at a party and facing an embarrassing situation in the next party by forgetting their names is a peril that most of us have encountered. But there are ways to combat this problem. Certain memory techniques work wonder in helping you remember face and names of people properly. Here are some of these valuable tips and techniques –

Memory Techniques to Remember Face & Name Easily:

  • Paying Attention – This is a very helpful way to remember a person’s face and name at the same time. If you listen carefully with concentration, you can remember the name next time easily.
  • Mind Set – This is another crucial step that you can follow. If you think that you will forget the names immediately after being introduced, your memory will work that way. But if you brace yourself to remember the names, at least most of the names and faces, you can remember them properly.
  • Face and Name Association – Do you remember the methods your teachers employed to help you memorize names easily? It is called mnemonic strategy. This is one of the most useful memory techniques that you can apply. Associate names with funny imaginations and it will help you better.
  • Observation – When you are getting introduced to new people, make sure you are making eye contact. This will help you to remember special facial features or other characteristics like the way they talk and walk etc. This in turn will help you in remembering their names better the next time.
  • Repetition – Among other memory techniques, this is certainly a very helpful one. When first introduced, ask politely for a repetition of the name. This will increase your chances of remembering the name and the person better. Even while conversing with that person, make sure that you try to repeat the name sometimes to remember it well.
  • You can also try to know the origin of the name of the person to show your interest. This is considered to be one of the valuable memory techniques to remember the name and the person.

There are several other memory techniques apart from those mentioned above, which you can use to remember names and faces of people well.

Preventing Age-related Memory Loss

Seeing our elders losing their memory power with the increase in their age is a common phenomenon that many of us have witnessed. Memory loss with aging has been considered almost a natural process and most of the time, it has nothing to do with threatening diseases like Dementia or Alzheimer. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to accept things as they are. Memory can be improved even in the aging people. All that it needs is to increase the exercise for your brain cells. After all, it has been proven that brain can produce new brain cells even in aged people.

Before dealing with the problem of failing memory, you have to make sure whether it is a case of natural memory loss or is due to some diseases that warrant a visit to the doctor. Here are some instances that show cases of normal memory loss:

•  Forgetting an appointment.

•  Forgetting where you have kept things you use regularly like the keys, your glasses etc.

•  Forgetting contact numbers.

•  Wandering, trying to remember the reason for coming to a place or room.

Ways to prevent Memory Loss

Here are certain tips that you can follow in order to improve memory even when you are aging.

  • It’s been observed that with aging, less blood flows into the brain cells, which in turn can cause memory loss. Regular exercises can help in combating this situation. This is because with exercising, more oxygen and blood goes to the brain, thereby keeping the cells healthy.
  • Just like you are keeping your body healthy through exercising, you need to give some work to your brain also. Supplying new information is a way to keep your brain cells engaged and in good condition. You can take up exciting classes or play Sudoku to keep your brain working in the proper way.
  • Eat healthy. This is another way to prevent memory loss in aging people. Vitamin B protects neurons and also helps in combating cardiovascular diseases. Increasing the intake of whole grains, fruits and vegetables help in keeping the body healthy, which in turn ensures good brain health as well.
  • In today’s world, pollution, tension and stress levels have increased a lot. Managing stress is a must while working on improving memory.

Memory loss with aging may be a natural aspect of life. But you can follow these simple tips to stay away from the concern of dealing with decreased memory power.

Benefits of Meditation to Memory Improvement

Many research results have shown that a calm approach to thinking can lead to improved memory. It is here that meditation can help. Being a holistic discipline that trains your body and mind to help you remain calm and stay focused, meditation improves your capability to think rationally and calmly. By helping you control your stress levels, it can also increase your attention span, and sharpen intelligence as well as focus. If you want to know more about how meditation can help you in your memory improvement endeavor, here are some cues:

  • Affecting the Cerebral Cortex: The cortex in your brain plays an important role in higher mental functions. It is believed that meditation exercises your cerebral cortex, which in turn increases in size and offers a better performance. Many accomplished musicians, linguists, and athletes have been found to posses a thickening in specific regions of their cortex. Meditation also improves the blood flow to your brain, thus helping it function more effectively.
  • Improves visual memory: Meditation practices that use Deity Yoga can help you enjoy an enhanced visual memory. It improves your ability to hold an image in the memory and later identify it among other comparable images.
  • Improves level of concentration: Most memory improvement techniques focus on how to improve your concentration. In the domain of meditation, concentration practices like Tratak can help significantly in such cases. Whether you want to have an improved memory for your studies, professional needs or want to sharpen your memory and intelligence during the golden years, meditation can be an extremely effective tool.
  • Helps to combat stress: Apart from causing many psychological and physical problems, stress also affects your memory adversely. However, meditation can assist you to decrease the levels of anxiety and stress, thus helping you in your memory improvement attempt.
  • Develops emotional stability: Meditation can help you to relax, and techniques like Yoga Nidra can bring high levels of emotional equilibrium. Since your mind becomes calm, you are able to focus better and enjoy a high level of concentration.

Meditation also improves the level of self-confidence and plays a constructive role in fostering a positive attitude. So, many memory improvement techniques these days sing praises of the benefits of meditation.

Excellent Memory BoosterThere are many food items that are known to have memory boosting powers. If you are curious to know more about some of them, you may begin your quest with caffeine. Perhaps you have seen how many people can’t begin their day without their quota of the morning cup of coffee. If you have always wondered why, and would love to delve deeper into how caffeine can act as a memory booster, here are some points that would offer useful insight into the mater:

  • Stimulates the brain: Caffeine helps to stimulate proper brain function and acts as a jolt to your system. That’s why many people feel that they simply can’t function until they have had their morning cup of coffee.
  • Enhances the functionality of brain: Caffeine gives an extra boost to your brain, thus helping it to get different things clarified and sorted into their right compartments. Perhaps this is why you would find many people sipping a cup of coffee during the mid afternoon hours when a lull descends and people start feeling lethargic. The caffeine in the coffee helps to bring your mind back to the alert stage by blocking the effects of adenosine, which is a neurotransmitter in the brain that makes you feel tired. This way, you can stay awake and continue with your work for the rest of the day.
  • Helps you to retain and process information: Thanks to its ability to improve memory, caffeine helps you to process information effectively and retain the same for a long period of time. So, whether you are a student, an employee or an independent professional, adequate dose of caffeine can help you tread the path of success.
  • Boosts feelings of well being: Caffeine encourages the release of dopamine – a brain chemical, which promotes the feeling of well being. Since memory power has a close connection with your well being, your brain works efficiently when you are happy and calm. No wonder that caffeine is hailed for giving results as a memory booster.

Despite its advantages as a memory booster, caffeine is primarily a stimulant. So, it’s wise to consume it in limited dosage and not get too dependent on it.