Memory is a process of accumulation, preservation of information and timely reproduction of accumulated experience.

Types of memory

There are several classifications of types of memory.

Depending on what kind of mental activity prevails, memory is divided into emotional, motor, figurative and verbal-logical.

Motor memory (otherwise called motor memory) consists in remembering the basic movements that we need to perform. Thanks to motor memory, we can walk, write with a pen, dance. We don’t have to relearn these skills every time.
Figurative memory allows us to capture various images – pictures, sounds, smells. Depending on which sense organ allows us to capture a specific image, figurative memory can be visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory and tactile. Auditory memory allows us to memorize various sounds, musical phrases. Visual memory is responsible for displaying various pictures, landscapes, just remembering the location of objects. Through taste memory, we know that lemon tastes sour and sugar tastes sweet. In the same way, thanks to olfactory memory, we can smell ammonia, vinegar, the smell of flowers with our eyes closed. Tactile memory allows us to recognize objects by touch, to navigate in a familiar (and even unfamiliar) room by touch in the dark.
Emotional memory is the ability to remember certain emotions. Through this kind of memory, we can empathize with someone else. If some information is interesting to us, we perceive it with positive emotions, then we remember it much better. The same things that we are not interested in, as a rule, are very difficult to remember.
Verbal-logical memory is the ability to remember certain thoughts. Verbal-logical memory is the most complex, it is present only in humans.
Depending on the duration of the preservation of the material in time, memory is instantaneous, short-term, operational, long-term and genetic.

Instantaneous memory is the retention of an accurate picture obtained with the help of the senses, without any processing of it. An accurate picture is saved for a very short time – 0.1-0.5 s. instant memory is memory-image.
Short-term memory is the preservation of not a complete, but a generalized image of the perceived material, its most significant details. We can keep such an image in memory for up to 20 seconds.
An intermediate position between short-term and long-term memory is occupied by working memory. Information is stored in it from a few seconds to several days. As a rule, all the information that we need to perform certain tasks in a short time is entered into the RAM, after completing them, the information stored in the RAM disappears.
Long-term memory allows us to store information for years. In practice, the functioning of long-term memory in most cases is associated with thinking and willpower.
Genetic memory is the storage of information in the genotype (the totality of all genes in the body), which is inherited. Genetic memory is special because we cannot influence it through learning.
Depending on whether we specifically need to remember certain information, memory is voluntary and involuntary.

If it is necessary to specifically remember some information (for example, to learn a verse), we connect an effort of will and try to remember the necessary information.
Involuntary memory lies in the fact that certain images “crash” into our memory, we remember them without a special purpose to remember or remember something.
Causes of memory impairment

There are several groups of reasons that can lead to memory impairment.

Memory can deteriorate due to various pathological processes, diseases of the brain. For example, memory impairment may be the result of a stroke, traumatic brain injury, frequent seizures.
Constant exposure to stress, chronic lack of sleep, an abundance of tasks that need to be completed when a person is simply not able to do it all, a sharp change in living conditions can lead to the fact that memory begins to deteriorate.
Abuse of alcohol (alcoholism), narcotic substances, frequent use of certain medications (for example, sedatives, tranquilizers) can lead to memory impairment.
It is no secret to anyone that with age in the body irreversible changes occur. They do not bypass the brain either, so memory at 80 is much worse than at 20. Contribute to the deterioration of memory with age and atherosclerotic changes in the vessels of the brain.
Some diseases of the internal organs (for example, the thyroid gland) can also cause memory impairment.
How to maintain and improve memory

Memory is an individual characteristic. However, this does not mean that if you have a bad memory, then you will have to suffer from this all your life. There are many ways to improve memory.

Proper nutrition, foods that improve memory

In order for memory to be good, the brain needs to receive all the necessary substances in sufficient quantities. If you want to keep a good memory for a long time, fatty fish (sardines, mackerel, tuna, trout, salmon), walnuts, pumpkin seeds should always be in your diet.

It is necessary to regularly consume cheese, sour cream, butter, fruits, berries and vegetables. A kind of “fuel” for the brain are complex carbohydrates, which are found in whole grain bread, beans, lentils, oatmeal, corn.

Good sleep and rest

Good memorization is impossible without proper sleep, emotional balance. If your thoughts are busy solving some problems, if you sleep 4-6 hours a day, then sooner or later your memory will begin to fail you. If you want to improve your memory, give your brain a chance to rest.

How to train memory

In the same way that people go to the gym, make their muscles work, it is also necessary to train the memory. You can memorize a small passage from your favorite poem or a few foreign words every day, constantly training your memory.

If you need to remember some information, you need to focus on this lesson, protect yourself as much as possible from everything that can distract you (turn off your phone, TV).

Any information is much easier to remember if you connect your imagination, try to find some kind of relationship, association. It is very good to memorize information by compiling notes, diagrams. At the same time, several types of memory are involved in memorization: motor (you write down information), visual (remember visual image), verbal-logical (set certain associations).

No wonder they say that repetition is the mother of learning. If the necessary information is systematically repeated, then it will move from short-term memory to long-term memory.

Medications to improve memory

If memory deteriorates due to some pathological processes in the brain or the body as a whole, then some medications can help. The following medicinal substances are used to improve memory:

nootropics (piracetam, aminolone, phenibut) – these drugs chemically affect the brain, activate it;
drugs that provide the brain with energy substances – succinic acid, glutamic acid;
plant substances that stimulate the brain – ergot alkaloids (nicegoline), gingo biloba (bilobil);
drugs that directly stimulate memory and concentration processes (rivastigmine, galantamine); indications for the use of these drugs is Alzheimer’s disease.