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
Return to: Time/Energy Training Abstracts
Go to brainpower index: Interactive Index of Factual Ideas