Boost Your Memory with Scribbles

Bill Gates does it. And you should, too. That is, if you want to remember things better.

We're talking about doodling. Studies show that people who squiggle, scribble, and sketch while listening may have better recall.

Doodle for Your Noodle
Researchers suspect that doodling helps keep people more alert and reduces daydreaming. In a study of 40 adults, half of the group shaded in a row of shapes and the other half did nothing while listening to a boring phone message. Later, when asked to remember what they had heard, the doodlers recalled 29 percent more information than the nondoodlers. How strong is your memory? Take this online digit-span test to find out.

More Ways to Flex Your Mind
If you exercise your brain, it will get stronger. So give these other brain-boosting tricks a try:

• Get wordy. Fire up your neurons and stimulate those brain synapses with this word game.
• Flex your memory. Try this handy mnemonic technique to sharpen your memory and remember everything in one step.
• Eat up. Clear your brain fog by eating these memory-boosting foods.

Here are four more ways to boost your brainpower -- from the YOU Docs.

What does doodling do? Andrade, J., Applied Cognitive Psychology 2009 Feb;23:1-7.