Does Math Improve Memory? A Comprehensive Guide

Doing math can help improve your memory! Studies have shown that working memory is closely linked to academic performance, particularly when it comes to math skills. Learn how NeuroNation brain training can help improve math skills by training working memory.

Does Math Improve Memory? A Comprehensive Guide

Doing math can be a daunting task for many people, but it doesn't have to be. In fact, math can actually help improve your memory! Studies have shown that working memory is closely linked to academic performance, particularly when it comes to math skills. Approximately one in six children struggle with mathematics, but with the right training, they can improve their math skills and memory. NeuroNation brain training is one such tool that can help with this.

Mental calculations require a lot of working memory. Children need to store the information they hear, remember it, and then process it correctly. Calculations also require students to recall additional mathematical data to complete the problem. Poor mental calculation performance is usually due to poor working memory, resulting in loss of information.

Fortunately, there are ways to avoid this bottleneck in working memory. Dr. Adbrizi explains that when children practice tasks such as mental arithmetic, they become automatic and unconscious, freeing up space in working memory to perform more complex calculations. Mathematics, especially mental arithmetic, is known to significantly increase brain capacity.

The study of shapes, numbers, and patterns encourages one to develop strong observational skills and stimulates critical thinking. Mathematics is a science that studies the properties and quantitative relationships between abstract entities (numbers, geometric figures, symbols) based on exact basic annotations and through logical reasoning. Two experts in working memory, Susan Gathercole and Tracy Alloway, describe how difficulties with verbal working memory and visual spatial working memory were associated with difficulties in learning mathematics. In short, while many people tend to believe that you are either good or bad at math, math is actually necessary for good health.

This entails the level of mathematical fluency necessary to excel in higher-order mathematical skills such as analytical thinking and solving complex problems. New brain research reveals that through hard work and effort, you can improve your intelligence. Mathematics requires abstract and concrete thinking, leading to the development of brain muscles. Research on Cogmed indicates that it can be very useful for improving mathematical skills such as the ability to remember mathematical data and equations, making it easier to consider information such as multiplication tables.

Quickly remembering mathematical data allows students to skip the line, preventing working memory bottlenecks. Studying mathematics can help increase general intelligence by developing important skills such as systematic thinking, problem solving, recognition of sequences and patterns, etc. Mathematics can help predict the likelihood that different combinations of medications will produce side effects and to identify the intervals of this treatment program. This animated article and blog explores the cognitive science of learning mathematics, explaining how different types of memory are involved, why speed is important and how practice is key to developing fluency in mathematics.

Shahid Lakha
Shahid Lakha

Shahid Lakha is a seasoned educational consultant with a rich history in the independent education sector and EdTech. With a solid background in Physics, Shahid has cultivated a career that spans tutoring, consulting, and entrepreneurship. As an Educational Consultant at Spires Online Tutoring since October 2016, he has been instrumental in fostering educational excellence in the online tutoring space. Shahid is also the founder and director of Specialist Science Tutors, a tutoring agency based in West London, where he has successfully managed various facets of the business, including marketing, web design, and client relationships. His dedication to education is further evidenced by his role as a self-employed tutor, where he has been teaching Maths, Physics, and Engineering to students up to university level since September 2011. Shahid holds a Master of Science in Photon Science from the University of Manchester and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Bath.