Working on Memory

Memory helps us navigate both familiar and unfamiliar circumstances. One advantage of life experience is exposure to a variety of situations that turned out differently.

The recent MasterClass on Brain Health discusses memory and how to work it.

First, the "Professors" discuss our memory relative to chimpanzees. They point out for finding objects, chimps rule. They need to forage for food, so they know what locations "pay." 

Accepting that, we still can improve our memory. How? Use the acronym RANE. 

Repetition. When we repeat activities, especially over time, we strengthen "neural connections" between the frontal cortex and hippocampus. We know from the popular, free Coursera Course "How to Learn," that spaced repetition and self-testing are among the most powerful methods available. 

Repeating your service toss helps your consistency.

Association. How many times have you tried to recall something and related it to something else? When having trouble recalling an actor or celebrity, our brain 'circles around' looking for associations. Who's that? That's Matt Damon's friend, er, Ben Affleck. Or who's she? She was in Million Dollar Baby...Hilary Swank. Whom does Sabine Wenzel remind us of? It's Kara Charette, who tormented Melrose while at Fairhaven. 

That is, a player "comparable" to a well-known and highly regarded player makes an evaluating coach see her more favorably. 

The "memory palace" technique helps some memory wizards.  

Novelty. We remember the new and the different which may be important to our survival. Joe Mazzulla has become 'the next new thing'. What varsity players will have a breakthrough season?  Of course, remember the adage, "Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold."

Emotional resonance. Strong emotions encode powerful memories upon us, good and bad. We'll never forget the greatest successes and abject failures. Fans will remember the great 2012 postseason run. Great for the positive but sometimes worse as we can't unsee the negative. 

Lagniappe. Develop personal leadership strategies.