10/1: Improving your Working memory

BHQ site: (www.brainhq.com)

Welcome to Week 5 of our Online Brain Fitness class. This week we will read about Working Memory. Note to those who were not able to open last week’s lesson – we think we have located and corrected the issue. Enjoy the lesson!

Have you ever stressed over your failing memory? We’ve learned in the past that forgetfulness can simply be a sign of too much multi-tasking or too little focus. But it’s true that it may be a sign that it’s time to pay attention to our cognitive skills and habits. We know that how we use our brains can make a significant difference in how sharp and efficient our brains will perform. Learning about working memory (WM) is important because an effective WM is the first step toward lasting (long-term) memories. Read this week’s lesson to learn the what’s, where’s and how’s of working memory, as well as some very practical tips that can help your brain store and recall important information longer.

This week, we look at working memory. Also known as short-term memory, this is the brief (seconds to minutes) memory that you have from focusing on a sensory input. It is also the type of memory that people complain about as they age. In our reading, we will learn more about working memory and where in the brain it is found. We will discuss two popular theories on how working memory works, and will then provide us with lots of ideas for improving working memory, including (of course) Brain HQ. Good news: You can improve your working memory! You can access the reading online by clicking here, or you can view and/or download the handout by clicking here.

Next, take the quiz to see how you did!

Challenge Update: Now that we’re a few weeks into our challenge activity, click on this NEW link to tell us how you’re doing, and to see how your classmates are doing on their chosen challenges: Challenge Update Check-in

Check out Padlet here: to post your comments about the lessons or anything else you may have learned lately related to brain fitness. Or just click this link to see what others have posted: Virtual Bulletin Board.

Zoom Session Invite: We will be having another, online Zoom session this week, on Wednesday evening, Oct 3rd, from 7:30 to 8:00 pm. Or join us at 7:00 for the Basics session on Memory basics, which compliments and supports the Topics lesson. We will answer questions, share BHQ experiences, and of course, discuss our weekly lesson on Working Memory. Everyone is welcome. Just follow the instructions on the Home Page or click here and scroll down to Weekly Zoom Sessions to learn how.

If it’s your first time participating in a Zoom session, you can try it by getting on the site early to see how easy it is to get it set up. We begin our BHQ Basics Zoom Session at 7:00, so try getting on at about 6:45 and call if you have any trouble. You can participate by video and audio, or just listen in by phone. Please let us know if you need help!

Enjoy your lessons and have a brain-healthy week!

Need help? Contact us at:

Pat Mosteller (pmostell@sdccd.edu) Cell 619-818-3953 - Online class

Mary Burns Prine (mburns@sdccd.edu) - Online class

Debbie Flores (dsflores@sdccd.edu) - Online class & Wednesday’s at the Kroc Center

Marilyn Kessler (marilynk@ifssd.org) - M &W’s at the College Ave Senior Center Online class support

Amy Kerrigan (AKKerrigan@covenantretirement.org) - Mount Miguel Covenant Online class support

Yael Lorberfeld (yaellorb@gmail.com) – W’s at the College Ave Senior Center Online class support