This is the secret post-study habit that boosts your memory and helps with retention

Retaining information after long days of studying can be a challenge in a world full of digital distractions. However, a recent study by the Autonomous University of Barcelona revealed that certain activities can strengthen memory and improve the brain's retention capacity.

Researchers have found that adrenaline, a hormone released during times of stress or excitement, plays a key role in memory consolidation . This effect, called “emotional memory,” explains why events that trigger an intense response are often remembered more clearly.

Through laboratory tests, specialists have proven that the activation of adrenaline after studying can prolong the duration of visual recognition memory.

In their experiments with rats, they observed that those exposed to an increase in adrenaline were able to retain information up to ten times more than those that did not experience this stimulus.

“To perform this task, the rat was placed in a square box and allowed to explore two identical objects, constructed from Lego bricks (sample phase). After a period of time (3, 24 or 48 hours), the animal was placed back in the same box and presented with an object identical to the sample objects and a different object (...). Only the animals that had received adrenaline showed recognition memory specifically for the identity (“what”) and location (“where”) of the object,” the scientists explained in their report.

The researchers concluded that “administration of adrenaline immediately after training lengthens the duration of recall in recognition memory tasks. Thus, adrenaline (whether administered artificially or released naturally as a result of a certain state of emotional arousal, for example) can improve recall of tasks with low emotional content and containing elements of episodic memory.”

Since it is not necessary to expose yourself to extreme situations to stimulate adrenaline production, experts suggest various strategies that can be applied after a study session to improve information retention:

While adrenaline can be beneficial for memory, too much of this hormone can have the opposite effect. When levels are too high for prolonged periods, the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for consolidating memories, can be affected.

To avoid negative consequences, it is recommended to complement these practices with relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, yoga or meditation.

The Nation (Argentina) / GDA.

*This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from La Nación (GDA), and was reviewed by a journalist and an editor.