The Memorygirl Matrix

Memory_Girl

EssexHebridean wrote: »

We used to find that with Nan talking about things a long way back in the past helped, as these areas of her memory appeared to still be quite clear. .

There is a really good reason for this - and I am itching to draw you all a picture to explain so bear with me whilst I try and make lots of words do the work of one scribble.

We make strongest memory traces the first time we do something - and childhoods are full of firsts (not the baby part but from 5 is onwards)

First bike, first Christmasses, first parties, first communions, first time performing, first crushes, first kisses, first loves .......

So the memory traces of childhood are some of the strongest.

We also make really strong memories of unique events - so Mums wedding day, the birth of her children - holding her first grandchild will also create strong traces. These tend to be events that hold very strong emotions.

Anything that is often repeated will create strong traces - a favourite holiday location, favourite meals, family rituals etc are also strong.

When we forget - we begin by forgetting all the samey samey stuff that lies between these strong traces IYSWIM.

So what did you have for lunch 3 days ago? - go on admit it - you had to really think about it (unless you always have the same thing in which case see point about repeating) ...... but if George Clooney had taken you out for lunch I'm pretty sure you would have remembered that :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Thats why some therapy of taking people back into their childhood times - environment, food, smells, music (esp music) can elp them "re-connect" for a while and that improvement can last for a few days IYSWIM.

So a trip to the zoo - it maybe that it ticks lots of boxes - a childhood experience, something you repeat with your own family - and certainly unique and different from the usual day-to-day of her present life.

Now remember, I'm not a Doctor, or even a neurologist - just an expert on how to create strong memories of things you want to remember in the future.

MG

fantasia322

I wonder if anyone has researched mind-mapping or adapting it as an aid/tool for people who live with dementia

Memory_Girl

Courgette wrote: »

ace summary!

So the meeting in Leeds is MG teaching her memory mapping skills? 13th of what?

Thanks again

November -eeeeekkkkk!!!!

MG

Memory_Girl

Cheery_Daff wrote: »

Aw scottishlass, that message made me cry all over again



xx

OMG!!!!! Me too...........


........... and it was me wot wrote it :cool:

MG

Memory_Girl

Gemmzie wrote: »

I really want to attend MG's course, if I'm meant to then the universe will find me a way. I wonder if work would pay for it.... *lightbulb* Must log into the other forum later, maybe there's some linking up possible...

When does the 50 day challenge start? Would love to give it a go this time.

You'd be very welcome hon

1st of November - finishing the 20th of Dec ready for Christmas drinkies and mince pie frenzy:D

MG

Memory_Girl

fantasia322 wrote: »

I wonder if anyone has researched mind-mapping or adapting it as an aid/tool for people who live with dementia

Yeah = there's people who use it to record people oral histories and create Maps of people memories. Hung on the wall and full of photos they become a great reference point for those more "confused" days.

MG

clairewop

Cheery_Daff wrote: »

Aw scottishlass, that message made me cry all over again

Congratulations courgette! :T

(((((((claire's arm))))))))) this is why you're working for yourself remember? So you can give yourself a rest when you need it.... Remember that and take advantage!

EH, what a lovely thing to do with your nan, must have been so difficult. There's actually a few people out there doing things like oral history with Alzheimer's patients now, helping them to create maps of their earlier lives to draw on and for people to talk to them about when the disease gets worse. Perhaps this could be something you do with your mum Olive? People seem to remember things from longer ago better than more recent things, and it gives pleasure to all to be able to chat about something, even in the long distant past. I can have a quick scout round for you if you like, I'm reading similar stuff for work at the minute so it'd be useful for me to, just let me know

xx

I know, but it's been 2 days now and people are waiting for stuff,

natsplatnat

fantasia322 wrote: »

I wonder if anyone has researched mind-mapping or adapting it as an aid/tool for people who live with dementia

Same thought here (just a bit behind with reading today!!)

Also, with the longer-term memory tracing, the oldest ones are the easiest to remember as the nerve 'path' (as it were) has been trodden many times - each time the story/event etc is recalled. If there is a small breakdown in the path, the brain cleverly re-routes access!! Newer events do not have such a well-beated track leading to them, so, if the path is broken, the information is muchly more easily lost.

Gemmzie

Memory_Girl wrote: »

You'd be very welcome hon

1st of November - finishing the 20th of Dec ready for Christmas drinkies and mince pie frenzy:D

MG

I'll have a think, it'll be the Bristol one so I have some thinking time - unless of course you get booked up!

Okay, so I need to think of some things to have achieved by then, shouldn't be too hard! I'm in

tellmeitsfriday

Congratulations Courgette - was it a boy sprout or a girl sprout??

I beleive there are rumours of a meet up after the main event as well which may involve vino and orange juice.