MEMORY POWER --- WORKOUTS AND TESTS TO IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY by Nicola Chalton. Barnes & Noble, 2006
INTRODUCTION (p7-13)
[1] What is memory? (p9-10)
[2] Do you have a poor memory? (p10-11)
[3] The purpose of this book (p11-12)
[4] The effort required (p13)
1) PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT (p15-60)
2) AN INTRODUCTION TO MEMORY TRAINING (p61-70)
[1] Beginning with the ancient Greeks (p63-66)
[2] Medieval and Renaissance memory training (p66-68)
[3] Modern memory systems (p68-70)
3) THE MEMORY PROCESS (p71-90)
[1] Plato's influential hypothesis
[2] The three stages of the memory process
[3] Development of modern theories
[4] Working memory
[5] Long-term memory
[6] Recall (p84-85)
[7] Why we forget (86-88)
[8] The physical basis of memory --- How do memories relate to the structure of the brain?
Memory is a very complex system of electro-chemical processes: Because of scientific research on damage to small parts of the brain that interfere with memory while damage to other parts does not, we now know:
(#1) That no single structure or part is responsible for memory; and
(#2) That the hippocampus, which lies within the temporal lobe and the frontal lobe, are both involved in memory formation; and
(#3) Memories are encoded in long-term memory by chemical changes in specific neurons; and
(#4) That new memories are formed by the growth of new synapses. Research suggests
#5) That short-term and long-term memory processes are independent of each other; and
(#6) That information does not necessarily have to be in short-term memory before it transfers to long-term memory storage. (p88-90)
Brain image featuring brain areas essential for memory processes: (p89)
(Note: use similar diagram for Memory Skill image)
1. Parietal lobe
2. Frontal lobe
3. Occipital lobe
4. Temporal lobe
5. Hippocampus
6. Cerebellum
4) TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING MEMORY (p91-122)
[1] External memory aids
[2] Internal memory aids
[3] General rules for memory
(1) Attention and concentration
(2) Organizing material
(3) Repetition and practice
[4] Tips for recall
[5] Mnemonic systems
(1) Visual mnemonics
(2) Verbal mnemonics
[6] Final note
5) TESTING YOUR MEMORY (p123-188)
[1] How to use the tests (p125-126)
[2] Beginning of the tests (p127-128)
(1) Test 1: Social/adaptive memory Names and faces Birthdays and anniversaries Appointments
(2) Test 2: Visual-spatial memory Scene Abstract drawing Mental rotation Spatial orientation
(3) Test 3: Working memory Playing cards Word pairs Reading memory
(4) Test 4: Factual memory Recall of facts Definitions
(5) Test 5: Numerical memory Digit span Mental calculation
(6) Test 6: Verbal and auditory memory Word manipulation Word lists Relating a heard story
[3] End of Tests (p188)
6) FINAL ASSESSMENT (p189-229)
[1] How to make the final assessment
Test 1: Social/adaptive memory Names and faces Birthdays and anniversaries Appointments
Test 2: Visual-spatial memory Scene Abstract drawing Mental rotation Spatial orientation
Test 3: Working memory Playing cards Word pairs Reading memory
Test 4: Factual memory Recall of facts Definitions
Test 5: Numerical memory Mental calculation Telephone numbers
Test 6: Verbal and auditory memory:
(1) Word manipulation Word lists
(2) End of final assessment (p228)
POSTSCRIPT (p231-234)
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING (p235-240)
GLOSSARY (p241-248)
INDEX (p249-252)
PREFACE (pvii-x)
Return to: Your Smart Self-Actualizing Memory Skills