Using Games to Improve Working Memory

Working memory is the preferred term among scientists for what is commonly called short term memory. It is the part of the memory that contains recently stored information such as phone numbers and names. You could call it the mind's scratch pad. Cognitive scientists believe that working memory can store a maximum of seven pieces of information at any given time.

A healthy working memory is essential for such skills as problem solving, literacy and numeracy. Improving working memory skills also improves attention and focus. Scientists believe that people can play certain games to improve their working memory. This article will look at some of these games .

Board Games to Improve Working Memory

Board games such as chess can help improve working memory. The skills used to plan several moves in advance, which are essential to mastering chess, require an understanding of relationships between different pieces of information that use the same parts of the pain that store pieces of information in your working memory.

Word games such as Scrabble can also improve working memory. Understanding words and letters is a vital function of working memory. Bringing different combinations of letters from long term memory into working memory can also help to improve visual and special skills, as the player generates patterns (words) in his or her mind.

Card Games to Improve Working Memory

Probably the best known card game to improve working memory is the one simply known as Memory (sometimes called Concentration). In this game, cards are arranged face down in a pattern on the table and turned over two at a time. If the cards match (for example, a pair of aces), the player gets to keep both cards. If not, the cards are turned back over. The player who collects the most cards is the winner. Since more of the cards will have been turned over as the game progresses, remembering which card goes where is the key to collecting cards in the later stages of the game.

Bridge is another card game used to improve working memory. Duplicate pidge, the type of pidge used in tournaments, is better for this purpose than basic rubber pidge, since the latter does not require you to memorize previous bids, and is more dependent on luck than skill.

Other Games to Improve Working Memory

Games to improve working memory can be as simple as closing your eyes and trying to remember the position of objects in a room. Or you can have a friend or relative create a list and try to remember the items in order. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.