Memory and forgetfulness
A Newark project asks, "How does memory work?"
Archived article from Oct 16, 1998
By Kathleen Brunet
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The Memory Disorders Project is also collaborating with Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia on the development of alternative learning and memory strategies for people who suffer memory problems following brain surgery for epilepsy.
To better understand these more common memory problems, the Newark researchers have recently been looking at a very rare memory disorder: global anterograde amnesia. "In this type of amnesia, patients lose the ability to learn all new facts or events that have occurred since their brain damage," said Gluck. "Documenting the anatomical and behavioral deficits in these amnesia patients provides tremendous insight into the functioning of the brain and its memory systems."
Memory aids Here are some memory tips from Stacey Warren, assistant director, Memory Disorders Project.
1. Pay attention. Stop and tell yourself, "I want to remember this."
2. Find something special to associate with the event that will help in recalling it.
3. Repeat, repeat, repeat. The more times you repeat something, the more likely you are to remember it later.
4. Get organized and establish a routine. For example, to avoid losing keys, keep a basket next to the door and put keys there as you enter the house. To take pills regularly, try using a special dispensing container that organizes pills by the day or the week.
5. Designate a day each week as your organizing day to pay bills and make "To Do" lists.
6. Cue yourself by using daily, weekly or monthly calendars, Post-it notes and written messages.
7. Keep it simple. To remember a phone number, try the technique called chunking. Instead of remembering a string of seven digits, try remembering the number as a string of two-number sets, for instance one, twenty-three, forty-five, sixty-seven instead of 1234567.
Subjects needed
The Memory Disorders Project is looking for healthy control subjects to compare with brain-damaged patients. Subjects should be in their 40s, 50s or 60s, have normal memory for their age and be native English speakers. Those with only a high-school education are especially needed. Subjects are paid for their time and can participate at either the Newark or New Brunswick campus. For more information, call ext. 1080 x3222 or see the Memory Disorders Project Web site at www.memory.rutgers.edu.
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