Is there a brain exercise that can help improve my memory?

A common memory complaint is remembering names; linking is a brain exercise you can use to link something you saw to a person's name. Watch Neal Barnard, MD, describe how the linking method uses crazy imagery to help you remember someone's name.

Transcript

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Linking is a simple way to link something you saw, like the person's face, to their name that you want to remember.

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[MUSIC PLAYING]

00:16

One of the most common memory complaints people have relates to names. You're at a party. You met two or three people.

00:23

And five minutes later you don't remember any of their names. Part of that is because we're nervous, maybe we're not really concentrating.

00:30

But the other part is there was really nowhere in our mind to put those names, so they all just fell out. I use linking.

00:37

Linking is a simple way to link something you saw, like the person's face, to their name that you want to remember.

00:45

I'll give you an example. Hi, my name is Robert. So, I have this crazy image, and I want it to be crazy because that way I'll remember it.

00:53

And I'm going to put it on Robert's face in my mind. So he has maybe a little robber, a whole bunch

01:00

of robbers going in one eye and out the other, carrying a bag of money. Remember, it's got to be crazy. It's got to be zany because then I'll remember it.

01:08

So it takes just one second. You look at Robert. He says my name is Robert, and my brain says I want to remember your name.

01:15

Robber-- here are these little robbers going in and out. Later on, you'll meet him at the party, and you'll say, "Hi, Robert."

01:21

And he's complimented that you remembered his name. You can try this. You can do this with anybody. [AUDIO LOGO]