Recent research says workaholics have a reason to be content. A break can make them feel even better than they expect.
New York University researchers are of view that, if one intends to strengthen his memory, taking a break after have learned a new piece of information is actually very beneficial. Taking such “active rest” in fact strengthens memory.
Lila Davachi, assistant professor of psychology at NYU, affirms that, while much research has been conducted about sleep and its connection with memory, evidences gathered showing that sleep is a valuable way to preserve memory, less is knowledgeable about how “active rest” during the day may affect them.
That is why Davachi tested the memory of sixteen participants during the course of her study and evaluated the effect that rest had on their memory. The study has been published in the January 28 issue of Neuron. Arielle Tambini, a doctoral contender at NYU, is the lead author of this study.
The research was conducted by firstly showing the participants a number of images successively, all pairing an object and a face. For example, they were shown a “surfer dude” and a beach ball and were asked how probable was it that the person shown was holding that object.
Afterwards, they were asked to rest, states Davachi. While they rested, the investigators monitored the brain activity with the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The researchers wanted to inspect the activity between the brain’s hippocampus and the neocortex.
Davachi explains that lasting storage memories is believed to be caused by the “off-line” transfer of information from the hippocampus to the neocortex. Davachi advanced that the brain regions actually remained operational even during the rest period, signifying a replay of the experience. She notes that, while this was suggestive of memories being cemented, it was not a concrete proof.
Consequently the researchers gave the participating members the memory test after their relaxation period. Based on the study conducted, Davachi explains that the people who had more correlations between the two areas of the brain during their rest time, showed a better associative memory. They were better able to remember the face that was associated with the object.
There is another expert in the field that found the results of the study interesting. Dr. Paul Sanberg, director at the University of South Florida Centre for Aging and Brain Repair, Tampa, says that what is of particular interest in the study is that it shows that active rest is a period during which one get this transfer of memory.
The findings of the study can prove to be use both for individuals who are trying to enhance their memory as well as for the researchers who are trying to further understand memory and what goes wrong, he said.
According to Sanberg, people in general, will find the results of the research suggesting that taking a break after learning new information, very valuable. He further suggested that it is even better to sit and do nothing in order to better assimilate the new piece of information. He advanced that by keeping on doing various tasks after having received new information, one may interrupt the memory which one had the intention to strengthen.
Source Health News
Tue, Feb 2, 2010
Gerontology, Health And Aging, Lifestyle