Working memory provides a person with a mental workspace to hold information for a limited period of time. During this time, our brain can manipulate and modify this information to create new information or find a solution to a problem.

What is working memory?

Working memory is the ability to perceive stimuli given by the environment or available information and to manipulate it immediately. Our brain is capable of storing a large amount of information, but storage capacity is not infinite. For this reason, some information is forgotten.

Even if not important in the long term, some information is important in the short term. This is when working memory is used. For example, if you ask for directions somewhere, you need to remember the route the person has given you by the time you reach your destination. You can forget this information later.

Working memory also enables us to manipulate information. Taking the previous example, while you’re on the road, you need to adapt to your situation. For example, if the indication was to turn right at the third set of traffic lights, once you’ve passed the first set, your information must change to “turn right at the second set of traffic lights”.

Working memory disorders

Working memory disorders are highly varied. They can occur in children with learning disabilities, or in adults and senior citizens following pathologies.

Symptoms include difficulty performing several tasks at the same time (double-tasking), difficulty solving step-by-step problems or difficulty following long or complex instructions. In addition, the person may have difficulty with mental arithmetic, or expressing abstract concepts.

Exercises to improve and train working memory

It’s possible to train your working memory. To improve this function, you can try organizing each activity into steps. This improves organization and the ability to follow steps. At first, you can write down the steps on a sheet of paper to make sure you don’t forget anything.

Creating routines can also help. A routine allows you to do certain activities at the same time each time. This has two effects. The first effect is to automate certain activities, since they are done in the same way over and over again. This automation means you use fewer attentional skills to perform them. What’s more, a routine ensures that you don’t forget to do certain things, as they become part of your daily routine.

• Mamie Cuisine
• Twins
• Crowded parking lot
• Calculus
• Sudoku
• Snowball Effect

Working memory enables us to perform different tasks thanks to several mechanisms.

1. Process information immediately

We often need to use important information to accomplish a task. Working memory enables us to process this information immediately, and to erase it later. This means you can still use the information, but only keep the most important ones in your memory.

2. Perform mental operations

Working memory enables us to modify and manipulate the information we need to use.

This allows us to make connections between the information we already possess, and to modify new information to make sense of it.

3. Handling information

The main feature of working memory is the ability to manipulate, and therefore change, information to suit our purposes.

You can take an image and imagine it from a different perspective, or you can imagine modifying an object. This function is very useful for understanding other people’s points of view, and for imagining the sides of objects you can’t see.

4. Search for a solution

Working memory is mainly used when you have to solve a problem with the information at hand.

Indeed, to solve a problem, we analyze all the elements, try to create connections and manipulate them to find the best solution.

Working memory is one type of memory, but there are other important types too. Indeed, during an activity, we use several cognitive functions and several types of memory.

SCARLETT

An easy and adapted version for seniors

LANGUAGE PROGRAM

For 4 weeks, follow our program to work on language by playing our specially selected games for 15 minutes a day.

Increase cognitive load

• • Handling multiple information: Take a group of items to memorize (for example, a shopping list or phone numbers) and try to remember them simultaneously while performing another simple task, such as mental arithmetic.

  • Play memory games: Engage in games that actively challenge working memory, such as card games or puzzles where you have to memorize and manipulate several elements at once.

Use logic games

• • Solve logic puzzles: Engage in logic puzzles that require you to retain information while analyzing options. This stimulates working memory while exercising analytical thinking.

  • Take part in quick quizzes: Test yourself with general knowledge quizzes or questions with quick answers to stimulate working memory and the ability to process several pieces of information at once.

Concentration and retention exercises

• • • Follow complex dialogues: During a conversation or while listening to a podcast, concentrate on the key points without taking notes, then try to summarize the content after listening. This helps to strengthen your ability to concentrate, while stimulating your working memory.

    • Listen to musical sequences: Listen to a melody or song and try to remember each note or rhythm by repeating it aloud. This engages working memory and concentration simultaneously.