4 secrets-to-a-great-memory

Page | 1 2012 © Professor Scott Straub LLC -‐ All Rights Reserved. www.GoodGradesFAST.com

4 Secrets To A Great Memory

By Professor Scott Straub Professor Scott Straub LLC

Go to www.GoodGradesFAST.com now!

4 Secrets To A Great Memory


FIRST THE LEGAL STUFF -‐

This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Distribution or duplication by any

means is a direct violation of International copyright law.

Copyright © 2012by Scott Straub and Professor Scott Straub LLC. All rights reserved. No

part of this eBook may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the

publisher.

No resale rights are conveyed with this book. You may not sell, give away or otherwise

share the content of this eBook with any party for any reason.

If you purchased or obtained this book from anyone other than Scott Straub or Organized

Productions, Inc. you have a pirated copy. Please help us stop Internet crime by contacting

us at [email protected]

2012 © Scott Straub – All Rights Reserved


4 Secrets to a Great Memory Most people believe that having an impeccable memory is something you are born with: either you have it or you don’t. This misguided belief is—thankfully—false. While everyone understands that a good memory is one of the most important skills every student should have, for some reason we’ve been lead to believe that it’s a gift only for a special few—those special few who won the gene-‐pool memory lottery. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Having a good memory is a skill—and like all skills it can be learned and improved by using the right techniques. Scott Straub, a teacher and memory expert, currently teaches memory skills to college students helping them understand how to survive and thrive in college. He also teaches senior adults, medical/health care professionals and children how to dramatically improve their memory. Straub also developed a groundbreaking program for remembering numbers.

Having struggled in school himself, Straub understands the need to retain and recall information. Memorization is key as a student and seems to be even more important today than in previous decades. Straub addresses the extreme importance of memory in his Tune Up Your Memory DVD programs designed for people of every age, from children through senior adults. His programs provide the fundamental keys to improving memory that could mean the difference between getting a failing grade or an “A;” waiting to get into the nursing program or getting accepted right away; or simply living a happy, healthy

life. Having a good memory is crucial at every age.

SECRET #1: YOU MUST FOCUS ON NEW INFORMATION FOR AT LEAST 7-‐9 SECONDS ________________________________________________

The first key to improving memory deals with focus. This step is called “First Awareness.” This is the process of consciously focusing on an item for an uninterrupted period of time. Focusing on something long enough allows the brain to store it in its short-‐term memory which is crucial to


success.

Latest research shows that it takes an average of 7-‐9 seconds of concentration (at least) to place something in short-‐term memory. Most people focus on new information for 2-‐5 seconds and then move on. This is not long enough for the short-‐term memory to retain the new information. You must be focused (no multi-‐tasking!) and make sure your time is uninterrupted. If you get distracted easily make sure you study in a quiet place where distractions are limited. In reality, 10 seconds isn’t that long when you are studying; but it’s long enough to get that new information into your short-‐term memory and that’s important.

SECRET #2: YOUR MEDICATIONS MAY BE AFFECTING YOUR MEMORY ______________________________

*Consult your doctor for advice on alternative medicines

Your over-‐the-‐counter and prescription medication could be harming your memory. According to Doctors Douglas J. Mason and Michael L. Kohn, medications including any sedating side effect have the potential to harm your memory. Medications known as anticholinergics slow down the primary neurotransmitter that helps you learn and retain information (Douglas J. Mason, 2007).

Sleep medications can also cause memory impairment because they prevent your body from achieving the deep REM sleep it needs to rejuvenate itself. If you constantly wake up tired please see your doctor.


Many of us have been lead to believe that memory loss is a natural form of aging when in reality memory loss could be the result of a number of untreated conditions. According to the Alzheimer Association: “Serious memory loss, confusion, and other major changes in the way our minds work are not a normal part of aging. Many conditions can disrupt memory and mental function. Symptoms may improve when the underlying cause is treated.” Some of these causes are: depression, Rx medication, dehydration, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, nutritional deficiencies, social isolation, insomnia, head trauma, anxiety, environmental chemicals, thyroid deficiency, tia’s, embolism, hormonal changes, infection, diabetes, aneurysm, and stress (Blotsky, 2009).

Getting diagnosed correctly and treating these conditions can help your memory. You can take a B12 Complex and folic acid to help prevent memory loss along with living a healthy lifestyle. This will be addressed further in Secret #4. So remember, please consult your physician if you any concerns about the medications you are taking.

SECRET #3: YOUR ABILITY TO THINK, LEARN AND MEMORIZE GOES DOWN VERY RAPIDLY… _____________________________________________________________________________________

You know the scenario: your monstrous anatomy final is tomorrow and thanks to poor—albeit fun at the time—decisions you now have only the night before to study. What do you do? Cram. What do you get? An “F”. Why is that? You’d think after studying for hours on end just before the exam your brain would retain a passing grade of information. Obviously, this isn’t the case.


Actually, research shows that after about only 10 minutes the brain’s ability to think and learn goes down. That’s only for the majority though; depending on the subject, your level of interest, your personality, etc your brain’s ability to think, learn and store information could be shorter than ten minutes. Bottom line: your brain needs to take a break and it is going to whether you want it to or not.

Have you ever been studying for 20-‐25 minutes only to stop and realize you’ve retained little to no information? In order to deter this from happening make sure you take short breaks while studying (emphasis on “short”) so that you can get back into the material. Simply take deep breaths and—if your setting permits—stand up and walk around for a few seconds. Research shows that you get 15-‐20% more blood to the brain when you stand so make sure you do so.

While studying take note of when your brain starts to wander. This will show you how long you can go before needing to take a break. Keep a clock close by so you can keep an eye on how long you’ve been studying and when you need to take a break. If you can, bring a timer and set it for 10 minutes (if it isn’t too distracting). It may be hard to pull yourself from the material for a quick break but in the long run you’ll be able to retain that information and actually get a passing grade on your exams.

SECRET #4: NUTRITION CAN RADICALLY AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO MEMORIZE _____________________________________________________________________________________

It’s really no secret that exercising and eating right help you stay healthy. But, you may not know that a healthy lifestyle can


also help your memory. There are certain vitamins found in nutritious foods that aid in nurturing and stimulating the brain.

Vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid protect your neurons and help make red blood cells (the cells which carry oxygen). These vitamins can be found in:

• Broccoli • Spinach and other dark leafy

greens • Asparagus • Strawberries • Melons • Black beans and other legumes • Citrus fruits • Soybeans

Antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E, and beta carotene all fight free radicals. Free radicals can damage other cells but antioxidants neutralize them along with helping oxygen flow through your body and brain. These antioxidants can be found in:

• Blueberries and other berries • Sweet potatoes • Red tomatoes • Spinach • Broccoli • Green tea • Nuts and seeds • Citrus fruits • Liver

Other important nutrients your body needs are Omega-‐3 fatty acids. You may think that since it’s called a “fatty” acid it’s bad (because all fat’s bad right?). Actually, this is the good fat your body needs. These fatty acids help


your brain with cognitive function and protect you against high cholesterol. The best sources for these fatty acids are:

• Cold-‐water Fish: Salmon, Herring, Tuna, Halibut, Mackerel

• Walnuts and walnut oil • Flaxseed and flaxseed oil

If for some reason you can’t eat any of these foods take a supplement so that you’re still getting the vitamins you need. However, the best way to get these vitamins is by eating these foods they are naturally found in.

Exercising regularly will also help to stimulate your brain as well as increase HDL (good cholesterol). Other healthy habits include:

• Losing weight (if needed) • Not smoking • Drinking alcohol in modest amounts • Cutting down on trans and saturated fats • Consuming olive, canola and peanut oils • Drinking cranberry juice • Lowering bad cholesterol

Having a healthy lifestyle not only benefits you physically but it helps your memory as well.

BONUS SECRET #5: NEW INFORMATION NEEDS TO STAND OUT TO BE REMEMBERED _____________________________________________________________________________________

This is the most important part of the memory process and the key to Scott Straub’s new Tune Up Your Memory program (www.TuneUpYourMemory.com). You’ve learned that focusing on new material is important, avoiding memory-‐impairing medications along with eating healthy stimulates the brain, and that studying in short bursts of time helps


to retain information but this is where it all comes together. You have to be able to get what you are studying from your short-‐term memory into your long-‐term if you want to really learn and process what you are studying. In order to do so you must make a connection.

Connection is the key. You must correlate, or connect, the new fact or concept into something you already know in a unique way. This may seem strange at first but it really does become easy and fun so stick with it. The most common way of making these connections is using something called mnemonics.

Mnemonics are memory aids, often in verse form, that help us remember facts. Science teachers use ROYGBIV to help students remember the seven primary colors of the visible light spectrum. “R” represents Red, “O” represents orange, “Y” represents yellow and so on. Rhyming mnemonics are also used to help with the learning process. How many of us were taught “I before E, except after C”? This rhyme works so well that many people will remember it for the rest of their lives. If there is already an existing mnemonic device for what you are studying: use it!

However, most of the information you study doesn’t have a prescribed mnemonic device for it. So now you have to get creative. This step shows you how to make even the most abstract information stand out in your mind.

The reason why mnemonics work so well is because they connect the information and do it in a unique way—a way that is out of the ordinary. In order to make the connection you have to do it in an outlandish way so your brain will remember the information. This is the heart of the memory system.

Let’s use an example: say you have vocabulary you need to memorize for a test. Now, you may be tempted at first to make flashcards for the task; don’t do it. A recent private study showed that 90% of information learned by using flashcards alone was forgotten the next day. Why is this? The students didn’t focus on each bit of information long enough and it wasn’t remembered in a way that was unique. Bottom line: the information didn’t stand out. In order to remember any new thing, such as a word and its definition, it must be connected in a very nonsensical way. This connection has to be out of the ordinary.


Back to the vocabulary you have to memorize. Say you need to remember the definition for the word “encroach.” Encroach: to trespass upon property or domain, gradually. Usually, connecting the word and the meaning would be difficult since the word “encroach” can be rather abstract. So you have to connect it. Here’s how:

1. First picture an EXTREMELY large roach with an “N” on its back (N-‐roach). Picture this very clearly in your mind. The trick is to really focus on the crazy picture in your mind. Close your eyes and concentrate on the image. Got it?

2. Next, picture the “N-‐roach” creeping towards your house or the fence around your house. The “N-‐roach” is gradually trespassing on your property. Can you see it in your mind?

The visualization is the key to the system. The image must stand out by being wild, gross, strange, or whatever is outlandish in your mind. It must be outrageous or even impossible. If you could come up with these connections for every vocabulary word imagine how much easier it would be to remember each definition? Do you remember what it means to “encroach”?

Some tips for creating these bizarre images in your mind:

Make the images:

• Very strange • Extreme in size

(abnormally large or small)

• Multiply (visualize 100,000 of the item)

• Colorful • Active • Talk to you. Give the

item a voice

At first this may be difficult, but the goal is not to create the “perfect” image or picture in your mind. The connection and learning happens when you spend time focusing on the word and the definition by trying to connect them. This information is vital to you being able to learn: The goal is not to create the perfect image or picture in your mind. The connection and learning


happens when you spend time focusing on the word and the definition by trying to connect them.

If you follow these basic steps when studying you’ll notice a dramatic difference in your ability to retain information. These skills along with others have helped countless students obtain their academic goals. Scott Straub teaches these skills to help struggling students in his Tune Up Your Memory programs. To learn more techniques that will help you remember more and work less, check out www.GoodGradesFAST.com and www.TuneUpYourMemory.com . You will learn more helpful information that’s been tested and proven to work for children, college students, seniors—anyone needing to improve their memory.


SECRET #6: THE LATEST RESEARCH ON THE BRAIN AND MEMORY… _____________________________________________________________________________________

Over the past ten years there has been a tremendous amount of research done on how the brain processes and retains information.

THE DOORWAY EFFECT

Have you ever walked into a room and forgot why you walked in? Researchers have found that everyone experiences this same phenomenon. It has recently been proven that the brain erases information when you go from one to another.

When you are in one location, the brain takes in information about the current situation and stores it in temporary memory. When you move to a different location, such as when you walk through a doorway into a different room we are programmed to naturally purge out useless information and get ready for a new set of data. This is why it’s called the doorway effect.

The great news is that forgetting information doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem with our memory, although if you notice it getting worse you should consult a physician.

STRESS AND LEARNING

Research tells us that when humans are under stress, their brains automatically "downshift" to a lower functioning level. This design allows fingers to pull away from a hot pan before the thought "I need a potholder" can even be formulated, but it just as easily sacrifices thinking and learning to such "survival" responses.

Under stress, humans drop from the thinking level, to the emotional level, and eventually to the "fight or flight" survival level. This is why you have a hard time learning and remembering when you are under increased stress.

When attempting to learn and remember new information, try to do so in with little or no stress.


MOVEMENT AND LEARNING IN YOUNGER CHILDREN

Movement is the only thing that unites all brain levels and integrates the right and left hemispheres , especially of young learners. Research tells us that we remember more information when our brain is fully engaged. The locomotion centers of the brain are paired, facing one another along the top of the right and left hemispheres, so that the center controlling the left leg parallels the center controlling the right leg, and so forth.

For this reason, movement ties in both hemispheres, allowing young children almost their only opportunity to apply both sides of the brain to an effort and attempt to pass information between the right and left hemispheres. For this reason many young children (and older kinesthetic learners) must move to learn. They are able to pay attention and learn only if they are free to wiggle around; sitting still is a strain.

Communication between hemispheres begins when a child is about five years old, becomes more effective around age seven (when a child can deal with the abstract), and is fully communicating about age 9-‐10 for girls and puberty for boys. Until these maturation points, most children are better off employing movement whenever possible to cement learning.


Bibliography Blotsky, F. H. (2009, October 22). Hope for those with Memory Loss. Retrieved November 16, 2009, from Trib: http://www.trib.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_a57e50b3-‐b487-‐5708-‐9424-‐86cceae65282.html

Douglas J. Mason, P. &. (2007). Are Your Medications Affecting Your Memory? Retrieved November 16, 2009, from InnerSelf.com: http://innerself.com/html/health/resources/are-‐medications-‐affecting-‐your-‐memory.html

Education

4 secrets-to-a-great-memory