In an intriguing exploration of memory, the University of Cambridge’s Memory Lab is shedding light on the intricate workings of our minds. This initiative, led by Professor Jon Simons, delves into the various facets of memory, offering insights into how we can enhance and preserve our cognitive abilities.

“When anxious thoughts flood our minds, they compete for space in our working memory and impair our ability to recall long-term memories. If we can find ways to reduce stress and anxiety, our memory can often bounce back.”

Jon Simons

What exactly is a memory? According to Simons, it’s a complex interplay of brain activities, a skill to hone, and a blueprint for future actions. The Memory Lab invites volunteers to engage in tasks that range from online exercises to MRI scans, all in the quest to decode memory’s mysteries.

If Memory Serves

Memories are biochemical changes that span the brain’s landscape, influenced by factors such as whether a memory is being encoded or reconstructed. The hippocampus plays a crucial role in forming new memories, but long-term storage involves multiple cortical areas.

Short-term memory, with its fleeting nature, is limited to about 7 items, as posited by Harvard’s George Miller. Alan Baddeley, a former director at Cambridge’s MRC Applied Psychology Unit, introduced a ‘working memory’ model that distinguishes between different types of short-term memories.

Long-term memories, on the other hand, allow us to ‘mentally time-travel,’ reliving past events with vivid sensory details. Research suggests that memory reconstruction is a creative process influenced by biases and emotions.

Cambridge’s Long Memory

Cambridge’s memory research legacy includes the work of Sir Frederic Bartlett, whose experiments demonstrated how cultural biases shape our recollections. His famous ‘war of the ghosts’ study revealed how students altered story elements to fit their familiar world.

Another pivotal figure, Brenda Milner, studied patient Henry Molaison, whose case highlighted the hippocampus’s role in memory formation. Her work transformed our understanding of memory.

Peak Performance

Simons, alongside Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, is investigating the UK’s top memorisers to uncover the secrets of their exceptional abilities. Preliminary findings suggest that a psychological trait called ‘systemising’ might be linked to superior memory performance.

For those not naturally inclined to ‘systemise,’ there are strategies to boost memory. Mnemonics, for example, involve spatial thinking, akin to the ‘mind palace’ technique used by ancient orators.

Jon Simons advises making memory triggers distinctive, as this helps the brain differentiate between memories. The hippocampus’s role in pattern separation underscores the importance of creating unique memory cues.

The COVID-19 pandemic’s ‘brain fog’ phenomenon illustrates how routine experiences can blur memories. To enrich our lives, we should seek varied experiences and manage stress, as anxiety can reduce cognitive abilities.

For those eager to delve deeper into memory research, Cambridge offers opportunities to participate in studies. To learn more about enhancing mental resilience and combating anxiety, explore resources like Brain Boost by Dr. Barbara Sahakian and Dr. Christelle Langley, or Dr. Olivia Remes’s techniques.

To participate in Memory Lab studies, get in touch.