Playing Games to Improve Working Memory: Does it Work?
Friday, November 6th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
If you want to get a better working memory, why not try some short term memory games and have fun while you are doing it? Working memory is the more technical term for what is often known as short term memory. Recently stored data such as names and phone numbers is stored in this part of the brain. Consider it as your brain’s scratch pad. Working memory has the capacity to store a maximum of seven items of information at a time, according to specialists.
When you’re solving problems or addressing issues that involve literacy or the use of numbers, it is especially important that you have healthy working memory skills. By making these skills better, you can also fine tune your ability to concentrate and pay attention. Many scientists are of the view that folks who play certain games make their working memory better. Some of these games to improve memory will be explored here in more detail.
Chess and other board games have been shown to help you gain a better memory. To be a success at the game of chess, you have to understand how distinct items of information relate to one another, which is needed in order to be able to plan more than one move in advance. This function occurs in the same region of your brain that contains your working memory.
Understanding letters and words is a vital function of working memory, consequently word games such as Scrabble can improve your ability to recall things. Mixing letters in different ways to form words and bringing them from long term memory into working memory can further assist your visual and spatial abilities, as this causes you to make patterns in your brain.
The card game Memory, also known as Concentration, is true to its name by being a great game to play to enhance working memory. This game requires that cards be placed face down on a table in a pattern, and then they are flipped over in twos. If the cards match, the player is allowed to keep them both. If it is not a match, the cards are put back, and the next person takes a turn. The one who collects the most cards in the end is the winner. As the game goes on, more and more of the cards have been flipped over; this is when memory comes into play, because you must keep in mind where each card goes.
You can also get an improved memory by playing the card game of bridge. Duplicate bridge is the type played in tournaments, and is more suited to this purpose than rubber bridge. Why is this? Because in duplicate bridge, you need to commit to memory the previous bids, however rubber bridge is more a matter of good luck than ability.
Short term memory games can be as easy as studying the objects in a room, then closing your eyes and endeavoring to recollect where they were. Or someone can make a list of random objects, give it to you to study for a few minutes, and then you have to recall the items in the right sequence. Utilize your imagination; you can probably come up with other ideas for games to improve your memory.
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