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Engaging Your Senses and Improving Your Memory

Did you know that using all five senses–sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch–can boost energy, improve brain function, and reduce stress? Research studies show that multisensory learning engages multiple brain regions, strengthening neural connections and enhancing memory while also creating a blissful state of awareness and well-being! The first step to experiencing these benefits is to pay attention to the sensations in our bodies and minds— a fundamental aspect of mindfulness. By bringing awareness to what we see, hear, smell, taste and touch, we not only calm our minds and relieve stress but also boost our energy levels and improve cognitive function. 
 
Multisensory learning and stimulation are founded on the theory of whole brain learning. When we engage multiple senses simultaneously, various brain regions are activated, strengthening and expanding neural pathways. The process enhances cognitive development and learning for both children and adults. 

Have you ever watched a child play? Kids naturally excel at being present, fully engaging their senses as they explore the world around them. Young children are hands-on learners by nature. It’s no surprise that multiple studies show sensory play promotes understanding, reasoning, problem-solving skills, and creative thinking. 
 
Furthermore, multisensory stimulation activates the reticular activating system (RAS) which relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex. When stimulated, this system enhances attention, comprehension, memory and retention. So, the next time you snuggle with your partner or a pet, plunge your hands into the garden, or walk the isles of your local supermarket, open to all your senses, and feel the shift in your awareness to a state of bliss.
 
But the benefits extend far beyond learning and memory. Meta-analyses consistently demonstrate a strong association between chronic stress and an increased risk of various diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, autoimmune conditions, cardiovascular disease, mental health disorders, stroke, and even some cancers. According to a paper in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, chronic stress is the root cause of over 75-90% of diseases.

When we empower our five senses, we naturally reconnect with our minds and bodies, anchoring ourselves in the present moment. Worries about the past or future dissipate and we become more aware, calm, and focused. By shifting away from stressful emotions which produce dangerous levels of cortisol, catecholamines, and other stress hormones, we significantly reduce the risk of disease.

References:

 
“Observe, record, tabulate, communicate. Use your five senses. Learn to see, learn to hear, learn to feel, learn to smell, and know that by practice alone you can become expert.” 
— William Osler
 

Tools To Enhance Memory

Multisensory stimulation can be a useful tool to help us memorize important data and learn new skills more easily.
 
  1. Visual and Spatial Techniques: Using images, colors, and spatial relationships to visualize information can help us tap into visual and spatial memory areas, making abstract concepts easier to remember. 
  2. Sensory Associations: Linking information to sounds, smells, tastes, or textures can create strong sensory associations that act as memory triggers. 
  3. Active Learning: Actively engaging with new material through hands-on activities, experiments, or creating your own examples can reinforce learning and improve retention. 
  4. Chunking and Organization: Grouping information into meaningful chunks and organizing it in a way that makes sense to us can make it easier to remember and retrieve.
  5. Memory Techniques: When I was in medical school, I remember using cabinets, dresser drawers and my refrigerator in my apartment to memorize 100s of pharmacology facts, concepts, and medicines. I visualized information and placed them all around my home. Adding colorful accessories and mnemonics to it, made learning fun. Other techniques, like the Loci method (Memory Palace) or creating your own mnemonics (memory aids) can leverage our senses to build strong memory associations.


Ready for some brain stimulation exercises?
Download BrainHQ, a scientifically designed brain training app to improve cognitive function through exercises targeting memory, attention, brain speed, people skills, intelligence, and navigation, based on the principles of brain plasticity.  Play the game and start training your brain today!
 
Structured, expert-led BrainHQ Classes also available in the website to enhance your understanding of brain health and maximize the benefits of the BrainHQ training experience.


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