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There is considerable evidence
pointing to this region as being
particularly important for the storage
of past events.
The temporal lobe includes the
temporal neocortex, which could
potentially be the region involved with
long-term memory.
In this region there is also a group
of self-interconnected structures that
seem to perform the memory function for
facts and events, which are the
hippocampus, the cortical structures
surrounding it, and the connecting ways
to structures in the other parts of the
brain.
The hyppocampus promotes the
selection of where the important aspects
of facts and events will be stored, and
is also involved with the recognition of
novelties and its spatial relations such
as the recognition of a road route.
The amygdala, by its turn, is a
kind of airport of the brain. It
communicates with the thalamus and all
other sensorial systems of the cortex
through its extensive connections. The
sensorial stimuli coming from our
environment, as sound, smell, taste,
sights and the sensation of objects, are
translated into electrical signals that
activate a circuit in the amygdala that
is related to memory, which is dependent
of connections between the amygdala and
the thalamus.
Connections between the amygdala and
the hypothalamus, from where the
emotional responses are probably
originated, allow emotions to influence
learning, because they activate other
connections from the amygdala to other
sensorial ways, for example, the visual
system.
The pre-frontal cortex also
has an important role in the solution of
problems and in the planning of
behavior. One reason is to believe that
the pre-frontal cortex is involved with
memory, is that it is connected with the
temporal lobe and thalamus.
Contrary to the common forgetting
normally occurring in our daily lives,
there are some diseases and injuries in
the brain that produce severe loss of
memory, and may also interfere with the
ability to learn. This inability is
called amnesia.
Factors that may cause total or
partial loss of memory are chronic
alcoholism, brain tumor, concussion and
encephalitis. Ageing and ageing related
diseases for example Alzheimer's disease
and dementia are also factors that could
result in memory loss.
How to improve memory
There are many things you can do to
improve your memory, among them the use
of certain mental techniques, as well as
special care with nutrition and
medicines. Some examples:
To stimulate memory - Use your
memory to the utmost. Challenge a
novelty. Learn new skills. For instance
if you are a programmer, learn to paint.
This could stimulate your brain neural
circuits to grow.
Pay attention - Do not try to
memorize all the facts that happen, but
focus your attention and concentration
in what you consider more important
avoiding all other thoughts.
Associate facts to images -
Learn mnemonic techniques. They are a
very efficient way to memorize large
quantities of information.
Visualize images - See figures
with the "eyes of your mind".
Water - Water help maintain
the memory systems working, especially
in older persons. Lack of water in the
body has an immediate and deep effect on
memory.
Sleep - To be able to have a
good memory, it is essential that we
allow the brain to have enough sleep and
rest. While sleeping, the brain
disconnects from the senses, and
proceeds to revising and storing memory.
Alcohol - The alcoholic is one
of the most serious candidates to affect
memory. Alcohol interferes specially
with the short-term memory, which
impairs the ability of retaining new
information.
Smoking - Smoking lowers
amount of oxygen arriving in the brain,
and this fact many times affect memory.
Vitamins supplement for the brain
Cod Liver Oil - A rich source
of docosahexaenoic acids (DHA), which is
an important nutrition for the healthy
development of the brain in the new born
child and children.
Ginkgo Biloba - Ginkgo works
by increasing blood flow to the brain
and throughout the body's network of
blood vessels that supply blood and
oxygen to the organ systems. Enhanced
circulation in the brain result in
improved short and long-term memory;
increased reaction time; and improved
mental clarity.
Lecithin - By providing the
choline precursor for nerve transmitter
synthesis, lecithin improves
acetylcholine production (which declines
with aging) leading to improved memory
and other neurological functions.
Antioxidant supplements
(Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Betacarotene)
- Antioxidants protect brain cells from
harmful molecules call free radical,
which damage cells and play a leading
role in the decline of memory and mental
performances seen in aging.
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