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62 factors can affect people‘s memory processes including health, anxiety, mood, stress and tiredness. Rob: That's why, for example, if you're taking an exam it's important to get a good night's sleep and to keep healthy. But Neil, when you're revising for an exam, what helps you to remember facts? Neil: I tend to write things down again and again and again and again. Rob: Well, that's one way. But people have different styles to help them remember. According to the BBC's iWonder guide, there are three different styles - visual, auditory and kinaesthetic, that's learning by ‗doing‘ and practicing something over and over again. That sounds like me. Neil: But recently, a new study has come up with a method that could possibly be the best way to improve your memory and that's by drawing. Daryl O'Connor, who's Professor of Psychology at the University of Leeds, has been speaking about it on the BBC Radio 4 programme, All In The Mind. See if you can work out why… Daryl O'Connor, Professor of Psychology at the University of Leeds: The authors certainly argue that one of the things that happens by drawing these particular objects, that it leads to this increased contextual representation of the object in one's mind… It makes a lot of intuitive sense – the idea that if you have encoded something in a greater level of detail, it's like you're more likely to remember it… It's much stronger than just remembering writing down the words. Neil : OK, so let's try to explain that. Drawing something leads to increased contextual representation of the object. When something is contextual, it is in the situation where it usually exists. Rob: So as you draw something you are creating a picture in your mind about what it is, how you use it and where it is used. I wonder if this means artists have good memories… Neil: Maybe. Daryl O'Connor says that when you draw you are encoding something in a greater level of detail, more than you would by just writing things down. Encoding is changing information into a form that can be stored and later recalled. Rob: That's because as you draw, you're thinking about different aspects of the object. He says it makes intuitive sense – intuitive means it is 'based on feelings rather than facts or proof' - so, you just feel it is the best thing to do. Neil: Of course, this is just one more way to improve your memory. I have also heard that doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku can help, especially when you're older. Rob: Yes, as we get older we can often have more difficulty retrieving information from our memory - and people with Alzheimer‘s find it very difficult to encode information – so any way to keep our memory working is a good thing. Basically we need brain training! Neil: Brain training and eating the right food, Rob! You might remember that earlier I asked you, according to the BBC Food website, which type of food supports good memory function? Is it… a) eggs b) spinach, or c) bananas? And Rob, you said… Rob: I do remember and I said b) spinach. Neil: And that is sort of the wrong answer. In fact, they were all correct – they are all examples of food that can help support good memory. Apparently, foods rich in B vitamins are important as they provide protection for the brain as we age and support good memory