By: Akshay Karthik
Teachers should emphasize the educational importance of understanding but not at the expense of overlooking the importance of memorization skills. Currently, mainstream educational theory embraces insight, creativity, inquiry learning, and self-expression. However, this can lead to a bias and need for acknowledgment of the role of memory in learning. Students can only apply what they understand if they remember it. Moreover, a good memory expands the repertoire of cognitive capabilities upon which new understandings can be developed and expedited (Cleveland Clinic, 2018). Memorization has several benefits for your brain. Not only does memorization increase your capacity to retain more knowledge, but it can also help develop new neural pathways to improve other cognitive functions.
Memorization Improves your Brain’s Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is the ability of the human brain to adapt and re-order itself. Your brain continuously makes new neuronal connections, improving efficiency as you learn new things.
Improving neuroplasticity can also help the brain compensate for diseases and the loss of neurons due to injuries.
Memorization Improves your Brain’s Cognitive Performance
As you age, it is shown in proven studies that your memory retention lowers immensely.
However, memory exercises can help delay the loss of cognition. In a study on adults over 65, scientists found that memorization and other brain exercises were critical in improving the brain’s cognitive function.
Memorization can Improve Critical Thinking
Thinking and problem-solving are functions of your working memory. As you memorize new information (new concepts and ideas), your brain realizes its need to accommodate more extensive and more complex data. In a way, you are cheating the system by honing in on your critical thinking skills.
Memorization Frees Up your Brain
Committing specific facts to memory can help you free up your brain for other essential things. As you commit the basics to the memory, your brain is free to take on more demanding challenges and step on to the next level of problem-solving.
Rather than getting bogged down with the mundane, your brain can now move on to do more complex things.
Memorization Stimulates The Creativity Centers of The Brain
A good working memory is the cornerstone of creativity. It would help if you first retrieved new ideas from your memory to develop new ideas. For any given creative task, you must be able to find memories that will help you accomplish it.
Memorization can improve divergent thinking, an aspect of creativity in which you explore many options. People with divergent thinking can develop creative ideas after exploring thousands of choices in their brains.
Studies show working memory is less effective in children and adults with ADHD than in those who don’t. As for Long-term memory, those with ADHD often don’t do well on long-term memory tests. But scientists believe that has to do with how they process information. When you have ADHD, distractions may prevent you from taking in information, or your brain may store it in a disorganized manner. Memories aren’t lost; they aren’t made in the first place.
Bibliography
Nowak in, by P. (2022, July 18). Can memorizing improve memory? (important facts). Iris Reading. https://irisreading.com/can-memorizing-improve-memory-important-facts/
Team, B. and S. (2022, February 2). Why memorizing things isn’t a waste of time. Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-memorizing-things-though-a-lost-art-isnt-a-waste-of-time/
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