ALPHABETICAL BRAIN™ VOCABULARY SUMMARY ABOUT YOUR WORKING MEMORY #1 April 27, 2020 WHAT IS YOUR WORKING MEMORY? AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT? The purpose of your working memory system is to determine what information from your six senses and your habits is the most important at the moment in order to protect you from danger, or to reduce pain, or produce the most comfort and pleasure possible. Your six senses include your sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell, and proprioception. Your "proprioception sense" involves neuron clusters at your joints, such as knees, shoulders, and elbows that give you your sense of spatial awareness and balance. The source of your working memory is a function of your prefrontal cortex (PFC). Your PFC consists of two clumps of neurons the size of two pennies located about one inch behind your forehead, each one at the front of both your Left Hemisphere and your Right Hemisphere. You can begin developing your mental force (brainpower), by learning how to control the functions of your working memory. It can be thought of as being your creative imagination, since that function allows you to be creative at any moment that you are aware of the need to be creative. Even your subconscious habits can help you deal creatively (effectively) with decision-making and problem-solving. Practical creativity includes all kinds of effective improvisation which helps you solve personal and social problems. This awesome creative function of your PFC can be enhanced by improving your thinking skills and reading strategies. Learning new ways of thinking and reading can strengthen the executive function of your PFC which is the source of your mind's adaptive self-identity and free will. You would have no conscious self-awareness and not be able to talk sensibly, if your prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were not connected in a healthy way. This is the shockingly dreadful dilemma of a victim of Alzheimer's Disease, which is the most common and fatal form of dementia. The conscious self-awareness of an Alzheimer's victim cannot connect with past unconscious memories. Tragically, when victims lose contact with their memories of the past, they often forget the faces of family members and how to say things grammatically correct, and the facts of life in the immediate moment. And when they get confused, they confabulate by making up nonsensical explanations to fill the cognitive void. Since there is no guaranteed way of preventing Alzheimer's disease, maintaining an active brain, doing regular physical exercise, and eating a healthy diet of food may reduce the risk of getting Alzheimer's or reduce the pace of the disease. The neuronal pathways, which physically connect your working memory system and your long-term memory system, are in your anterior cingulate cortex. The neuronal pathways carry biochemical currents (ionic signals/impulses) a few inches from your prefrontal cortex in your cerebrum to your hippocampus in your limbic system. The goal for living long and well is to keep fresh blood flowing through your veins and arteries and keep sparks of electro-chemical ionic signals flowing throughout your connectome (brain and nervous system). By opening your mind to new perceptions organized around reliable brain facts and ideas, you can strengthen your mental force (brainpower). You can conquer your doubts and confidently maintain your sanity and empower your self to develop new habits. WORKING MEMORY METAPHOR "The relationship between working memory and long-term memory is similar to that of a librarian and a library. Like a librarian, working memory allows you to search through the 'books' of information stored in the 'library' in order to accomplish a specific task." (Book Source = Working Memory Advantage, 2013, page 160) "With Alzheimer's disease, both elements are under attack: the 'librarian' struggles to search through the stacks, and the worms are eating through the 'books'. A shrinking working memory has a detrimental effect on your ability to access the 'books', to search through the 'library' and find and apply what you need." (page 160) "And when the 'books' deteriorate, it is much harder to read what remains." (page 160) "However, working memory is such a dynamic and adaptive function that if it remains strong, even if Alzheimer's begins to eat away at your neurons, it may in fact help to prevent you from experiencing the cognitive symptoms associated with the disease" for a long time. (page 160) What are the secrets of making both your working memory and long-term memory more efficient? TAKE COMMAND OF YOUR LIFE WITH THREE NEW SKILLS The following three excellent learning techniques can improve the functioning of your working memory in its relationship to your long-term memory. They are: (1) Code Breakers; (2) Bootstrapping; and (3) Chunking: (1) The code breakers technique of planning can be used for improving your memorization of the 15 brain ideas emphasized on this website, if you develop a step by step plan that can then help you transfer and consolidate new brain information into your long-term memory system. For example, you can use your creative imagination to match or create associations between each of the 15 memory codes featured on this website with each of the 15 brain ideas, respectively. (page 182) (2) The bootrapping technique of learning involves the process of combining or binding verbal information (text) with visual information (brain diagrams) by using both your working memory and your long-term memory systems together. This technique can help you consolidate brain information such as the brain names and definitions and memory codes. Eventually, the details about each brain idea can be retained and retrieved at will. (page 183) (3) The chunking technique of memorization involves a method of breaking down complex information, such as the description of your brain's many amazing structures and your mind's many functions, into smaller parts or "chunks." The smaller chunks of alphabetical letters (of the vital brain information) can be organized and committed by your working memory to your long-term memory. Then, the "long chunks of information are stored in your long-term memory." This facilitates the process in which "your working memory 'conductor' can prioritize and manage data more efficiently." Book Source = Working Memory Advantage, 2013 (page 183); See also Appendix: Working Memory Quick Hits Manual on pages 280-291. RECOMMENDATION: You can re-read this summary according to a reinforcement schedule, such as a few hours later and a few days later and then several times in the next week or two. This strategy can help you take advantage of the power of the spaced-repetition method of memorization. Such deep introspection can strengthen your willpower and change your adaptive self-identity to increase your self-esteem. Remember always: You are your adaptable memory! BRAIN IDEA #1 TAP or CLICK on BOX WORKING MEMORY MEMORY CONSOLIDATION EXERCISE instantly return to: HUMANIST STAIRWAY TO ENLIGHTENMENT produced by Infinite Interactive Ideas™