Try These Games for Improving Working Memory

Did you know that one of the best ways of improving working memory is to play games? Working memory is the more technical term for what is often called short term memory. It is the part of the memory that includes information taken in recently, like people's names or addresses. It could be compared to a place where the brain jots things down, like a note pad. It is the opinion of the experts that working memory can store a total of seven bits of information at any one time.

When you are solving problems or addressing issues that involve literacy or the use of numbers, it is especially important that you have healthy working memory skills. Making these skills better also improves your focus and attention. Many scientists are of the opinion that games to improve memory are quite valuable in developing these skills. We will examine here several of these games for improving working memory.

Board games like chess may assist in making your working memory better. The skills used to plan several moves ahead, which are necessary to win at chess, involve an accurate perception of the interaction of dissimilar pieces of information. And this process takes place in the same area of your mind as the parts that handle the storage of data for working memory.

Understanding letters and words is a vital function of working memory, therefore word games such as Scrabble can improve your ability to recall things. You can improve your visual skills as well by transferring word and letter combinations from your long term memory into your working memory.

One of the best games for improving working memory is the card game known as Memory, or also Concentration. This game requires that cards be placed face down on a table in a pattern, and then they are flipped over in twos. If the cards match, the player is allowed to keep them both. If not, the cards are turned back over, and the other person has a turn. The one who collects the most cards in the end is the winner. As the game continues, more of the cards are turned over, so remembering where each card goes is integral to doing well near the end of the game.

Another card game utilized for an improved memory is bridge. Duplicate bridge is the type used in tournaments, and is more suited to this purpose than rubber bridge. The reason for this is that duplicate bridge requires you to remember bids, whereas rubber bridge involves more luck than skill.

An easy game for improving working memory is to just close your eyes and try to remember the location of specific items in the room. You can also ask another person to write down a list of various items, show it to you, and then ask you to repeat back the items on it in the correct order. Your creative abilities are the only limit to the number of different games you can play.