The powerful and beneficial effects on the brain of someone who meditates are quite dramatic. Research shows that someone who meditates has better memory function, a better functioning IQ, improved concentration and focus. Memory shapes who we are, and gives us our sense of self in the world we inhabit. As we age, we start to become more forgetful and we think that this is a normal part of aging. However, modern neuroscience and ancient spirituality offer hope and practical techniques to preserve and maybe even enhance memory.
Memories are formed in a three-step process. First, ‘registration’ (taking in the information). This activity takes place in the prefrontal cortex. The second stage is ‘consolidation’ that takes place in the hippocampus, and finally ‘storage’, (keeping the information) which takes place in the whole brain. ‘Retrieval’ (recalling) can then happen when required. A major reason for poor memory in the young is faulty registration due to a distracted mind with a poor attention span. A brain structure near the hippocampus is the amygdala, which is used for emotional tagging of experiences so that the emotionalised memories or memories that have strong emotions attached to them, remain in the brain for a long time. We can think of the brain as a mesh of wires (84 billion of them) that we call neurons.
They are storehouses for memories and belief systems. Some memory networks are inherited while others are acquired with time. Because we are all different; we have a distinct set of experiences from early childhood; parents, education, nationality and so on, so each set of networks (memory systems) is unique to each individual. Memory is a dynamic process, not static. Every time we learn, practise something, or meditate, we strengthen that particular neural pathway. The brain physically changes in a process of neuroplasticity. The brain memory system is not fixed: with use, connections are strengthened, and with disuse, they fade.
Why do we forget things? Pseudo-dementia (false-forgetfulness) is caused by negative thinking. When negative emotions are hyperactive, then memory is suppressed. Stress emotions and depression result in brain dysfunction, poor intelligence, and poor memory. Many young people are hooked on mobile phones and consistently exposed to violent or negative videos. Their memories and intellectual capacity are diminishing. When we are angry, we feel stress and negative emotions. This results in a lack of concentration and loss of focus. Negative emotions also hijack the logical brain. People blinded by greed cannot think logically. Attachment results in pain and suffering that lower our brain capacity. Pride and ego result in the loss of common sense.
Dementia (pathological forgetfulness) is a different kind of forgetting. Some things are normal to forget, especially when we do not refer to those things often. The brain erases what we do not need. Aging slows our recall but does not erase the memory – supplied with a clue, we can remember. However, if someone completely forgets, for example where they keep certain things, repeatedly asks the same questions, often get lost (disorientated), and struggles to name familiar objects with the correct word, then it is time to seek medical advice.
There are many myths about forgetting. For example, it is often believed that when we forget something, it means it is gone forever. That is incorrect; it can resurface with prompts. It is also not true that by merely repeating something you will remember it better; there has to be active engagement when learning. We do not use just 10 per cent of the brain, as some people assert; all regions of the brain work together. There is also no evidence for a photographic memory; strategies are used in recall. Multitasking does not, in fact, improve memory; it fragments attention and weakens registration (taking in of information).
Here are some everyday tips for improving and enhancing memory function: 1. Make sure to get seven to nine hours of quality sleep. 2. Exercise in some way (move) every day. Exercise triggers neurogenesis, i.e. new brain cell production, and helps with recall. 3. Eat brain-healthy food – green vegetables, nuts, Omega 3, and keep hydrated. 4. Stay socially active – this combats memory decline. 5. Keep the mind happy with good and positive thoughts. Happy minds are intelligent minds. 6. Meditate: it takes little time, is completely free of charge, promotes better focus and recall, removes negativity, and stabilises the mind.
Dr. Swapan Gupta is a neurologist at the GB Pant Institute, New Delhi.