How to improve your memory
Dr Naveen Chitkara

Gurpreet and Gurkaran were twins who studied in 5th standard in the same school. Gurpreet was the topper of the class and was often declared the best student. Gurkaran, though intelligent, was poor at studies and could not perform well in his exams. He was usually not attentive in the class, could not learn properly, crammed his syllabus near the exam, got confused while taking papers and often made silly mistakes. His parents were at loss to understand why Gurkaran’s “memory” was not as good as Gurpreet’s.

If you think you are intelligent but cannot deliver results due to poor memory, this piece can change your life. Human brain works like a computer. Data typed on a computer cannot be retrieved unless it has been saved on the memory (hard disc/CD/DVD/flash drive, etc). The amount of data stored depends on the capacity of the storage device. Similarly, a human brain can retrieve any data if this has been stored in the memory.

It has been found in different studies that one can improve the ability to learn and remember by using the below mentioned techniques:

l Being more attentive

l Organisation — If we disintegrate our work into different categories, and then organise it, chances of retention increase.

l Distinctiveness — To say words in a distinctive way, e.g. spelling the words loudly, helps in recalling the words better than simply reading them off like a list.

l Effort — Recalling of difficult anagrams is better, presumably because more effort is put into them.

l Elaboration — Recall is higher for the ideas if explained in the elaborated paragraphs.

The spacing effect shows that an individual is more likely to remember a list of items when rehearsal is spaced over an extended period of time. (For near-perfect retention, initially repetitions may need to be made within days, but later they can be made after years).

In contrast to this is cramming which is intensive memorisation in a short period of time. Memory accuracy among adults is hurt by the fact that they know more than children and tend to apply this knowledge when learning new information.

A good way to improve memory seems to be to increase the supply of oxygen to the brain, which may be accomplished with aerobic exercises, walking for three hours each week, swimming or bicycle riding.

The International Longevity Center released (in 2001) a report with the recommendations for keeping the mind in good functionality.

Some of the recommendations: stay intellectually active through learning, training or reading, remain physically active so as to promote blood flow to the brain, socialise, reduce stress, keep sleep time regular, avoid depression or emotional instability and ensure good nutrition.

The best methods for increasing the strength of memory:

1. Better memory representation (e.g. with nemonic techniques)

Nemonic technique is when representative letters are taken (from difficult to remember sequence) and placed in order in a compressed form. This compressed form can be later expanded to recollect the whole sequence.

2. Repetition based on active recall (especially spaced repetition).

The writer is a neuro-surgeon associated with Oxford Hospital, Jalandhar.

 

Important tips Chunking lRepetition Good sleep Attention Organisation Distinctiveness Effort Elaboration Accessories — exercise, regular sleep, good diet, no stress, avoid emotional instability

EYESIGHT
Perfection in cataract surgery
Dr Mahipal Sachdev

Cataract or clouding of the human crystalline lens is one of the most common causes of decreased vision. Traditionally, cataract is defined as a “senile” change which affects the transparency of the lens making it more opaque and causing diminished or blurred vision. Though senile cataract occurs around 50-60 years of age, other conditions like diabetes, steroid usage, inflammatory disorders, trauma, etc, can cause cataract to occur earlier. These cataracts need to be evaluated and treated accordingly, keeping the special situations in mind. The aim of cataract surgery is to give you crystal-clear comfortable vision, not just for a few days or weeks but LIFELONG. Various factors play a role in determining the successful outcome of cataract surgery.

Incision size
Phaco-emulsification has helped us to reduce the standard 12 mm incision to a 2.8 mm self-sealing incision with no sutures or bandages. The location of this incision can further be planned to reduce astigmatism and enhance your vision to minimise your dependence on glasses. The incision size can be reduced to 0.9 mm with phakonit technique in which rollable IOLs need to be implanted for best results.

Signature: fusion fluidics with cold phaco technology
The fusion fluidics technology available through the Signature phaco machine delivers phaco energy safely and effectively to the lens. The combination of the torsional ultrasound and stability of the fluidics system provides a balanced environment to remove even the densest of cataracts smoothly and completely. Even difficult, complicated cases can be dealt with easily due to the high margin of safety, something that is not possible with other machines.

The post-occlusion surge which induces most complications of phaco surgery has been found to be the LEAST with the Signature system allowing the surgeon to provide a flawless, risk-free cataract surgery. It provides the speed of the venturi system along with the safety of the peristaltic system to give you the best possible result. The ellipse ultrasound hand-piece combines a side-to-side mode along with a longitudinal mode in the same stroke, making it the most efficacious system for cataract removal. The low energy used minimises damage to the blood aqueous barrier and reduces post-operation inflammation.

Innovations in IOL quality and design
The most crucial factor in cataract surgery is removing the old, cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. This new lens will now take over the functions of the old lens and transmit light rays on the retina to provide a sharp focused image and clarity of vision. It is the quality of this new lens which will determine to a large extent how successful the cataract surgery outcome is.

A huge array of IOLs is available to suit your specific needs. Aspheric IOLs neutralise the aberrations of the eye and rejuvenate your vision, making it more like the vision of your youth. They also improve contrast so you can see well even in low light conditions like driving at night, dining by candle light or walking in a morning fog. Available in acrylic and silicone materials, they can be customised to suit your individual needs.

Glass-free options for cataract patients can be obtained in the form of Toric IOLs for people with astigmatism who have worn glasses all their life but can now get rid of their cylindrical power and enjoy clear vision after cataract surgery. People who do not wish to use glasses even for near work can choose from a wide range of Multifocal IOLs of the diffractive and refractive variety. The Tecnis Mutlifocal IOL provide high quality contrast distance and near vision needed to function well in both bright light and low light conditions.

Multiple factors together play a role in determining the successful outcome of a cataract surgery.

The writer is Chairman and Medical Director, Centre for Sight, New Delhi. Email: drmahipal@gmail.com

Laugh and live longer
Roger Dobson

Laughing at Charlie Chaplin can be a serious business. Chortling at a funny film may seem to be an activity with few consequences for health, but research shows that it does more than exercise the 20 or so face muscles involved in laughing. When researchers showed a group of mothers with babies diagnosed with eczema, Chaplin's Hard Times or a weather documentary, those who laughed at the funny film had higher levels of melatonin in their breast milk. And when their babies were fed the melatonin-rich milk, they had fewer allergic reactions.

"Our results show that laughter of mothers may be helpful in the treatment of infants with eczema," say the doctors at the Moriguchi-Keijinkai Hospital in Japan, who carried out the study.

The study is among the latest research to show that laughter, humour and happiness play a key role in good health and longevity, and can positively affect diseases and conditions as diverse as high blood pressure, flu, heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. As NHS nurses start attending laughter workshops to encourage them to lighten up and make hospital stays a more pleasant experience for patients, research is increasingly showing the value of laughter and humour.

The concept that laughter is good for you is also being used in therapy to improve quality of life, provide some pain relief, encourage relaxation, and reduce stress. Some centres now provide some kind of humour therapy — one in five National Cancer Institute treatment centres in the US offer it — and it can involve watching films, listening to tapes, reading books or attending humour workshops. It can also be combined with exercises, such as yoga.

But can it do more than ease stress and act as a distraction? Can laughter actually affect the progression of illness, boost the immune system, and reduce symptoms of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis?

It has long been accepted that low mood, including depression, can have a negative effect on physical health. Patients who are depressed at the time of heart bypass surgery, for example, are more than twice as likely to die during the following five years. Stress chemicals triggered by being made redundant or getting divorced can also double the likelihood of death from heart disease or stroke.

Now research is showing that laughter and humour can have a positive effect on health and longevity. Just how is not clear, but studies are throwing up some clues. Happiness and laughter have been shown to increase natural killer cell activity in blood and free radical-scavenging capacity in saliva, as well as lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol. It is also thought that laughter causes the release of special neurotransmitter substances in the brain, endorphins, that help control pain. And there are more direct physical effects of laughter, including increased breathing, more oxygen use, and higher heart rate.

Some research suggests that laughter can boost the immune system. When researchers at Japan's Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine showed a 75-minute funny film to a group of men and women, they found that that blood levels of natural killer cells activity increased by 26.5 per cent.

Happiness also boosts the immune system. A study at Birmingham University found a link between higher levels of antibodies to flu and being in a happy marriage.— The Independent