Six Hacks for Managing Your Working Memory

What is working memory?

Working memory is like a holding station where a network of neurons holds a bit of information while at the same time doing something else. Working memory holds a never ending flow of input from our external world all the while integrating with internal memories already in place in the mind. Your mind is an amazing manager integrating new information with information you already have.

An elephant never forgets. So they say. Photo by Steve Bomar Photography

You might view memory like a video recorder that records all of life experiences in a huge hard drive. Instead research shows that memory is more efficient. Our brain has a network of neurons that briefly hold all the thoughts and perceptions of that moment. During that one brief moment that same network of neurons allows the individual to link the incoming thoughts and perceptions with stored memories to so that each moment by moment experience makes sense and allows us to act accordingly. Without this working memory we would forget what happened just a moment ago. Dory, the lovable Blue Tang from Finding Nemo and Finding Dory, has become today’s poster child for Working Memory deficit. She asks a question, hears the answer, appears to register it, but then asks the same question again of the same person again moments later.

Working memory cells guide our selection of incoming information helping us focus on what we need in order to continue a task or find more information. Many aspects of academic work depend heavily on the executive functioning of working memory. You are using your working memory as you read this paragraph. You remember the ideas of the previous paragraph, connect them with this paragraph and find where this information fits with previous knowledge you already have in your brain.

As parents, we might wonder if our son or daughter will ever remember enough information to pass freshman algebra.  Here are some of my suggestions.

Ruth’s hacks for managing working memory deficits.

1. Be aware of your memory. You don’t forget EVERYTHING. So take a snapshot of those times when your working memory really does its job. Becoming aware of your working memory will help you use it on purpose. For example, when I listen to an audio book I usually walk or color. When I hear an idea that I want to be sure to remember I increase my awareness of my physical surroundings. Where am I on my walking path? What color am I using? What am I feeling? Cold, warm, hungry, sweaty. Making a connection between my sensory input with an abstract idea or bit of information will help me recall it when I need it.
2. Control the factors you can control. Working memory will work more efficiently when given optimal conditions. Make sure your physical needs are met like food, water, rest and exercise.
3. Be ready for stress. Your working memory is more likely to make all the connections if you are calm and not stressed. If you know you will be in a high stress situation, then you can count on your working memory slipping so prepare for it. Take more notes. Use your phone to take pictures. Take a friend to help you remember and not forget something really important. Program your phone to ring as a reminder to do something.
4. Be your own advocate. You know you will probably forget the doctor’s instructions. You are trying to make sense of the first thing you heard and before you know it he is done talking and walking out the room. Before the doctor or anyone who is giving you instructions walks away, ask them to stop and repeat that second step or rephrase the ideas they just said. You could summarize what you just thought you heard. Say this, “Would you repeat that last sentence?” or “Did I hear you say… (summarize)?” Another thing you could say, “What did you mean when you said?”
   

   What did I just hear? Photo by Steve Bomar Photography

5. Develop good note-taking techniques. Note taking increases comprehension. It will also support memory. Work on your own system to taking notes.
6. Use mnemonics. Create a visual, auditory or tactile trigger to help you remember. This week I had to park on the 7th level of the parking garage. Parking garages intimidate me. Everything looks the same and I know the cars parked next to me might not be there when I return to my car at the end of the day. I have these scary images of me lost and wandering around the parking garage in the dark, asking myself, “Where did I park my car?” The kind people who built the garage painted a cute koala bear at the elevator door with a huge number 7 next to it. I stared at the darling koala, repeated “koala -7” three times aloud while patting my right cheek, and got on the elevator. At the end of a very long day I found my car with no problems.

If I get my own executive function manager to keep up the good work, my next blogpost will be about monitoring and self-regulating action.

*The content and ideas for this post come from my own practice plus

Bertin, M. (2011).  The family ADHD solution: A scientific approach to maximizing your child’s attention and minimizing parental stress. Palgrave MacMillan: New York

Brown, T. (2005). Attention deficit disorder: The unfocused mind in children and adults. Yale University PressHealth & Wellnes: New Haven.