This document provides information on improving memory and discusses various techniques. It begins by defining memory as having three aspects: encoding, storage, and retrieval. It then discusses eidetic or photographic memory and notes that while not everyone has it, everyone can take steps to improve their memory. The document outlines 11 steps to improve memory, such as exercising one's brain regularly, reducing stress, eating a healthy diet, taking better pictures, repeating things to learn, and organizing one's life. It recommends several online resources and a book for further improving memory.

1. How to Improve Your Memory?
Created by
Fateh Eltaboni
(Libyan PhD student at Chemistry department, university of Sheffield)
Oral presentation introduced to Speaking skills RTP course at ELTC centre
20-11-2009

2. Outline
Eidetic
Memory
• What is the memory?
• Photographic memory:
• Steps to improve your memory:
• Recommended references:

3. What is the memory?
Encoding
+
Storage
Information
Retrieved

4. What is the memory?
According to psychologists there are three distinct
aspects to memory:
1. Encoding: i. visual (iconic) ii. sound-based (acoustic)
iii. meaning-based (semantic)
2. Storage:
3. Retrieval:

5. What is the memory?
•Any information to be remembered must be encoded
by: visual or sound based
• For example:
think about the way you remember a page number when
you use the index of a book?

6. Photographic memory
• Also known as eidetic memory
•Photographic memory is the ability to retain a highly
detailed image of something not in sight.
•The bad news is not everyone has a photographic
memory.
• The good news, is that everyone can take steps to
improve their memory

7. 1. Persuade yourself that you do have a good memory that will
improve.
• Many people get stuck and convince themselves that their
memory is bad when they are not good with:
- Names -Numbers
• Its hard to keep motivated if you beat yourself down every time
you make a little bit of progress
Steps to improve your memory

8. Steps to improve your memory
2. Exercise your brain:
• Regularly exercising the brain keeps it:
i. Growing ii- Develop of new nerve connection
• How do you exercise your brain?
-By developing new mental skills such as:
i. Learning a new language
ii. Learning to play a new games
iii. Challenging your brain with puzzles every day,
such as:

9. Steps to improve your memory
i. Cross word
ii. Sudoku
iii. Other games

10. Steps to improve your memory
3. Exercise daily:
• Regular physical exercise:
i. improves circulation and efficiency throughout the body
including the brain)
ii. can prevent the memory loss that comes with aging
iii. Makes you more active and relaxed
iv. Improve your memory uptake
v. Allowing you take better mental pictures.

11. Steps to improve your memory
4. Reduce stress:
• Chronic stress can make remembering much more
difficult
• After prolonged stress the brain will be damaged: HOW?

12. Steps to improve your memory
Stressful situations are recognized by the hypothalamus
Which in turn signals the pituitary gland

13. Steps to improve your memory
Which in turn secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Which influences the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline
and later cortisol (stress hormone)
The cortisol can waken the blood-brain barrier and damage
the memory centre and memory will be harmed

14. Steps to improve your memory
• Stress will never be eliminated but can be controlled
•Try to relax, regularly
•Practise yoga or other stretching exercises
•And see a doctor if you have chronic stress ASAP

15. Steps to improve your memory
5. Eat well and eat right:
• Healthy diet contributes to a healthy brain
• Eat foods containing antioxidants such as:
i. Broccoli
ii. Blueberries

16. Steps to improve your memory
iii. Berries
iv. Spinach
iv. Omega-3 fatty acids

17. Steps to improve your memory
Feed your brain with such supplements as:
i. Thiamine(B1) ii. Vitamin E iii. Niacin(B3)
iv. Vitamin B-6

18. Steps to improve your memory
•Eating 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day instead of
three large meals also seems to improve mental
functioning by limiting dips in blood sugar
6. Take better pictures:
• work your observational skills
•For example, meeting new people;
We don’t really learn people names because we are not
concentrating on remembering them.

19. Steps to improve your memory
• Solution: look at unfamiliar photograph for a few seconds
and then turn the photograph over and describe or write
down as many details as you can
7- Give yourself time to form a memory:
•Memories are very fragile in the short –term and
distractions can make you quickly forget something.
•Solution: Focus on the thing to be remembered for a while

20. Steps to improve your memory
8- Create vivid and memorable images:
•You remember information more easily if you can visualize it
9- Repeat things you need to learn:
•The more times you hear, see, or think about something, the
more surely you will remember it
•Repeat it, either out loud or silently

21. Steps to improve your memory
10- Group things you need to remember:
• Random lists of things (a shopping list, for example)
can be difficult to remember
•To make it easier, try categorizing the individual things
from the list
11- Organize your life:
•Keep items that you need such as keys and eyeglasses, in
the same place every time
•Use an electronic organizer or daily planner

22. Recommended references:
1. Brain games: www.lumosity.com
2. Improve memory and focus: www.titanlQ.com
3. Improve your memory: www.Mightymemory.com
4. Boost your Brain power: www.primalForce.net
5. Ron F.(2007).Improve your memory. Blackwell. UK

23. Thank you
for your
attention