Mastering Prospective Memory: Practical Exercises to Boost Executive Functioning and Improve Daily Living

2024-05-03 05:06:59
Prospective memory is directly related to executive functions, which is a cognitive function that allows us to plan, organize and make decisions guided by our intentions – (Illustrative Image Infobae)

The memory It plays a fundamental role in people’s lives, as it allows us to remember past experiences, learn new skills, recognize people and objects, remember things planned for the future and make decisions based on various experiences.

There are different types of memory, one of which is prospective memory. In line with this, Lucía Bachetti, psychologist and member of the neuropsychological department of INECO, commented: “This type of memory acts as a personal assistant for the future, helping us remember and perform actions at specific moments.”

For his part, the professional explained: “We can categorize it into two types: prospective memory based on events (usually guided by an external signal such as remembering to buy the ingredients for dinner that evening when you pass by a supermarket) and memory “time-based prospective (for example, remembering to attend medical appointments or take medication at certain times).”

Repetition is a technique that distributes and facilitates memory since it allows the information to remain active over and over in the brain – (Illustrative Image Infobae)

Prospective memory is directly related to executive functions, which is a cognitive function that allows us to plan, organize and make decisions guided by our intentions.

For that reason, prospective memory depends on being able to plan when and where to perform an action, being able to keep that intention in mind, and even change from one task to another if necessary.

Next, Bachetti will provide four practical exercises that can be easily incorporated into your routine to improve potential memory.

This technique suggests that people imagine a place that is well known to them, using visual memory, so that it is useful when remembering the tasks they want to perform.

For example: if the goal is to remember, buy the necessary ingredients for dinner, you can make a mental tour of where these products are stored at home and in this way ease your memory when you are in the supermarket.

You can also use this exercise at work, by linking important meetings or tasks to a specific place in the office. For example, link a team meeting to the conference room or an important conversation with the break room. The key is to meaningfully associate the items or tasks you want to remember with familiar or easily seen places in the environment.

As is known, repetition is a technique that distributes and facilitates memory, since it allows the information to remain active over and over once more in the brain, which directly affects the storage or storage stage of the information.

For this reason, reviewing the information that one wants to remember will help promote future memory.

Setting alarms on your phone without marking them and trying to remember what they are set for is another recommended practice. This technique combines the utility of alarms with the stimulation of one’s own memory.

Use the association technique when you combine new information with what is already stored. Memories will be more resistant to forgetting when they are associated with information that is already familiar or familiar. This technique can help link specific times of the day to specific tasks. For example, linking medication to an already established habit, such as eating breakfast in the morning.

To conclude, Bachetti expressed: “Prospective memory is a great ally in daily life, as it allows us to remember future events and make decisions. Incorporating this type of exercise into our routine will also help us create habits that are difficult to maintain, with the aim of promoting a more organized lifestyle and promoting long-term mental and emotional well-being. The key is consistency, which is why it’s important to maintain commitment to these techniques.”

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