No matter what age we are, it is common to want to improve memory. When we are young and rapidly expanding our knowledge base, it is useful to find ways to enhance our capacity to remember things. In fact, memory supports overall intelligence. When faced with a challenging situation, we can draw on a collection of otherwise unrelated information and thread pieces together to see things from completely new perspectives, this leads to innovative thought. As we age memory tends to decline, yet, as we age we benefit from a lifetime of skills and expertise. By improving memory we can also come up with new solutions while jointly relying on former expertise.
There are many different suggestions for improving memory. Some are unlikely to have any measurable effect, but at Minded we have become interested in a new field of research on memory, namely the use of vibrations. There are lots of new studies being published but we are only going to cover one.
Researchers at Boston University, led by Rob Reinhart, explored how mild brain stimulation through electrostimulation (non-invasive electrical currents) might help older adults reclaim their youthful memory capabilities.
In their study, participants in their 60s and 70s received 25 minutes of brain stimulation using electrical vibrations. The vibrations were precisely tuned to match individual brain networks. Participants experienced a rapid improvement in working memory. Working memory includes holding facts and information in mind when we are completing tasks. Researchers also observed a significant increase in neural synchronisation patterns, which helped networks to engage in better cross talk and increased access to memories. Amazingly, the study found that adults achieved memory performance on par with 20-year-olds which lasted for at least 50 minutes after the stimulation ended. We at Minded are curious as to whether electromagnetic brain stimulation could, over time, improve memory in general. We are also interested in the role between these techniques and their applications Dementia. Currently, researchers are also exploring this potential.
Additional research has been published on music reporting that certain tones of music can improve semantic memory, the memory associated with verbal recall and events. It would be interesting to explore whether singing could do this as well, or whether the music needs to have very particular tones and whether vibrations must come from external sources, such as music. If singing could improve memory, there may be a role in using mantra for memory enhancement in yoga therapy. Likewise, the vibrations experienced during bhramari, humming bee breathing, may also provide a pathway for memory improvement. Yogis have expressed this benefit of Bhramari for generations. Now we can assess whether the lived experience aligns with scientific investigation. If it does, we have yet another benefit of Bhramari.
Heather Mason, our founder, sings all the time (even when she walks down the street) and she insists it enhances her memory through the vibrations, the need to recollect words and tunes, and the sense of joy associated with it. We know that stress can compromise memory.
We love to hear about any experience you have had with memory and vibration, music, or singing. Please share in the comments below.
