Do Memory Games Strengthen Memory?
Cognitive training, known also as “brain training” is one of the post popular trends in self improvement. Brain train activities, such as memory improvement games and brain training apps are abundantly found online, promising to help improve our brain functions: short term memory, concentration, speed of data processing, etc. While these games are very engaging and fun to play, users don’t feel certain whether their cognitive skills indeed improve. memory improvement games
What do scientists say about it? Scientific research has shown that brain games alone are not a sufficient method to achieve long-term memory improvement results. Scientists have found that, when it comes to keeping our brain strong and fit, two activities are worth our time. The first is cardiovascular fitness (as exercise feeds our brain with nutrients and oxygen) and cognitive aging. What is cognitive aging? Put simply, it is mental stimulation triggered by novelty. Every time we perform tasks we’ve never done before, meet new people, visit new places and generally do things we have never done before, our brain works more to cope with the new situation. Tasks we perform often, become less and less challenging for our brain over time: cooking our favorite dish or driving to work are not stimulating any more, as these are performed with our brain on autopilot. Visiting new places, learning new skills and socializing with new people are good ways to challenge our brain and push it out of its comfort zone.
Why do we forget things as we grow old? Research has shown that mental decline is not due to the death of nerve cells as we grow older but due to the thinning out of the number and complexity of the connections (called synapses) between the dendrites (the dendrites are the “branches” of the brain cells that receive information and process it). When we grow old, we tend to perform the same tasks and routines every day. Challenges are rare and as a result, we don’t create new synapses anymore, at least not at the rate we once did. Consequently, the dendrites atrophy, and our ability to remember new information decreases. This is why we tend to forget more as we grow older. Mild forgetfulness is not a disease like Alzheimer’s, and action can be taken to combat it. memorization games
How can memory games help? Regular mental fitness exercises can certainly help keep the dendrites of our brain cells in good shape! Learning memory techniques and playing memory games, will not improve the natural memory abilities you were born with (such as sharp memory for numbers, or a photographic memory). BUT being able to apply memory techniques will help you make better use of what you have.
Conclusion Memory games are great to warm up and stretch your working memory. Combine them with learning and using memory techniques and you will be able to improve significantly your real-world memorization skills! By using memory techniques your confidence in your memory will grow as it will be easier for you to memorize any kind of information that you want to memorize, regardless of your age. However, keep in mind that playing brain games alone will not sufficient, in the long-term, to challenge your brain. If you play Sudoku every day because you like it, this will just end up in your comfort zone. Our opinion is that you should learn a few good memory techniques and practice them by playing as many memory games as you want. But it is essential that you also 1) stay cardiovascular fit and 2) challenge your brain and its “dendrites” with new activities every day. Learn a new skill, take a different route to work, try a new recipe. Get out of your comfort zone at least once a day!
Book Recommendations on memory techniques and memory games: 1. Memory Improvement Games: A Complete Workout with 50+ Memory Exercises and Games to Improve Memory by Puzzleland 2.The Memory Book : The Classic Guide to Improving Your Memory by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas 3.Unlimited Memory: How to Use Advanced Learning Strategies to Learn Faster, Remember More and Be More Productive by Kevin Horsley
