Filtered by: Scitech
SciTech

Poor memory? Try squeezing your hand


Balling your right hand into a tight fist can literally help you get a better grip on your memory, according to a study published in the journal PLOS ONE. Doing the same with your left hand later on helps in the retrieval of that memory.
 
The study, conducted by Ruth Propper and her team at Montclair State University, categorized volunteers into five groups. All participants were tasked with the memorization of a 72-word list, which they were then made to recollect afterwards, according to Mail Online and Science Daily. Test subjects
 
Four of the five groups were asked to squeeze a rubber ball as hard as they could prior to memorization of the words. The first group had to clench their right fist 90 seconds before memorizing the list, and again before recollection of the list. The second group did the same except with their left fist. The third and fourth groups had to clench one hand before memorization, but had to use the other hand before the memory retrieval phase. The fifth group, which served as the control, did not squeeze their fists at all.
 
The group that recalled the most number of words was the group that squeezed with their right fist prior to memorizing the words, and then clenched with their left before recollecting those words.
 
The group that clenched their right fist before and after memorization performed second best.
 
The control group came third, performing better than those who clenched with their left fist first.
Why it (may) work  
The researchers think that the simple gesture of squeezing with the right hand may be triggering the area of the brain in charge of storing memories. Meanwhile, clenching the left hand may be activating the region involved with information recall.
 
“The findings suggest that some simple body movements – by temporarily changing the way the brain functions – can improve memory,” explained Propper. “Future research will examine whether hand clenching can also improve other forms of cognition, for example verbal or spatial abilities.”
 
The researchers suggest that people try this trick out for themselves when attempting to memorize a list or a phone number.
 
It remains to be seen if left-handed people will also benefit from this technique. — TJD, GMA News
Tags: memory, medicine, fist