Four easy tricks to make your memory work harder for you

The Washington Post:

It’s pretty amazing that the same brain that stores our favorite moments, the names and faces of our loved ones, and what our favorite foods taste like can also make room for cocktail chatter, PowerPoint presentations and whatever your boss’s dog’s name is. Keeping memory sharp is key for life. Recent studies have shed light on some surprisingly simple ways for ramping up your recall.

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In a 2008 study in the journal Psychological Science, researchers at the University of Michigan found that people who stepped outside into a natural or parklike environment showed improvement across a host of cognitive functions — including memory — compared with those who were stuck in a city. The researchers theorized that this effect comes from the attention required to navigate an urban environment in a safe manner (you’ll want to watch out for passing cars, for example), which makes it difficult for your brain to relax and replenish.

Read the whole story: The Washington Post