What Is Verbal Memory, And How Can You Improve It?
Memory is an essential and complex part of human cognition. It can be divided into many different types according to how long information will be stored—such as with primary and secondary memory—and the type of information being stored—such as with visual memory and verbal memory. Today, we’ll be focusing on verbal memory in particular. Read on to learn more about this important type of memory, including how it works and how you can improve it.
Verbal memory, defined
It involves the recognition of speech sounds that make up a given language so we can recall and reproduce sounds that correspond to words that we’ve read or heard in the past.
Challenges with verbal memory—which can manifest as trouble with oral comprehension and difficulty producing speech—can occur as a result of damage to or degeneration of the left side of the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls it. A medical professional can check an individual’s verbal memory ability through neuropsychological tests. These can take a variety of forms, but they’ll often involve word lists or short stories that the tested individual will be asked to provide information on later.
The components of verbal memory
Verbal memory can be both short-term and long-term. For example, you may recall certain words on your grocery list from last week, and you also recall thousands of vocabulary words in the language(s) that you have heard and spoken all your life. The three distinct components of verbal memory include:
- Capacity: the amount of information that you can hold
- Duration: the amount of time you can hold various types of memories
- Encoding: techniques that allow us to maintain short-term verbal memory, such as the repetition and rehearsal of verbal memories (like practicing your lines for a play again and again until you remember them)
An example of verbal memory
The most common example of verbal memory is being able to remember the words of a quote or a poem that you heard or saw written, but that’s not the only function of verbal memory. Let’s take a look at a slightly more complex example to get an idea of some of the nuances in this type of memory.
Say you’re taking a word association test that pairs similar words together. You hear “house” and then “flue” (the term for the duct inside a chimney that smoke travels through). Even if you’ve never heard the word “flue” before, you’re likely to recall it later if you hear “house.” This is the result of your verbal memory allowing you to continue to associate the two words you heard together even after the test is over. It’s one of the ways in which verbal memory can be an important tool for learning.
What’s the average verbal memory capacity?
Our capacity for verbal memory—or any type of memory—is not infinite. In fact, although it seems paradoxical, we need to forget to some degree for our memory to function properly. Otherwise, our brains would be too cluttered with small, unimportant memories (like what kind of sandwich you had for lunch five years ago) to be able to store new information. That’s why individuals with a healthy memory capacity and functioning will typically retain and forget information automatically as needed so there’s always space available for new information.
The number of items that the average person can retain at a time in terms of short-term working verbal memory is Miller’s magic number, which dates to a 1956 study. At the time, they found that most adults could retain roughly five to nine items on average within their short-term memory.
Ways to improve verbal memory
For most people, it’s possible to strengthen different types of memory at various stages in life. Taking measures to improve verbal memory may be especially relevant for those who have certain types of brain injuries as well as for older adults since verbal memory tends to decline with age. Either way, the research suggests three activities that may help:
- Walking. One small study worked with individuals who were trying to learn vocabulary words in a new language. Its findings suggest that those who practiced the words while walking at a slow pace on the treadmill demonstrated greater retention than those who practiced them while seated.
- Participating in music training. A 2021 study indicates better verbal memory in those who were involved in musical improvisation and/or had a history of music training. The participants in this study were older adults, but other research has suggested that music training may help improve verbal memory in children, too.
- Reading aloud. Other studies suggest that reading study materials aloud may help improve verbal memory too, particularly in adults with minor intellectual disabilities.
There are also techniques you can try that are intended specifically to improve your verbal memory retention. One that you might consider is called “elaborative rehearsal,” which involves connecting information to other information to aid in later recall. For example, think about all the song lyrics you’ve retained over your lifetime. The reason this comes so easily to most of us is that music can act as a powerful mnemonic device—and is one of the most effective forms of elaborative rehearsal. It’s why teachers use songs to help children remember everything from the alphabet to the state capitals—and why many adults can still recite all these years later.
Seeking support related to memory
Facing challenges related to your memory can be confusing and frightening. Similarly, watching a loved one go through such challenges can be difficult as well. If you’re facing either of these situations, you might benefit from speaking with a therapist. They can provide emotional support for what you’re going through and can offer healthy coping mechanisms for any stress or anxiety you may be feeling. Note that if you’re experiencing memory problems yourself, it’s typically recommended that you also consult with your doctor for evaluation.
Attending regular in-person therapy appointments is not feasible for everyone, such as those who live in a rural area or those who have trouble leaving the house or poor transportation. In cases like these, online therapy can represent a viable alternative. With a platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a therapist who you can meet with via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging from the comfort of home to address the challenges you may be facing. Research suggests that online therapy can typically offer similar benefits to in-person sessions, so it may be worth looking into this format if it’s more convenient for you.
Takeaway
What Is An Example Of A Verbal Memory?
Verbal memory is the memory of oral or written information you’ve previously learned from a conversation, dialogue, or written work. An example of verbal memory is remembering the plot of a story. You are also using verbal recall when you remember someone’s address by recalling a conversation you had with them. When you’re receiving verbal information and using that information alone to encode information presented to you, you’re using verbal recall.
What Are Verbal Memory Problems?
The prefrontal cortex controls verbal memory. Individuals may struggle to recall verbal stimuli when this part of the brain is injured or not functioning properly. Verbal memory issues can lead to delayed recall, difficulty producing speech, and difficulty understanding others when they speak. People with this challenge may benefit from taking notes or recordings of a lecture or presentation and important information as evidence of what has been learned. Some people with dyslexia, specifically, may struggle with verbal recall.
What Are The Types Of Verbal Memory?
There are not multiple types of verbal memory. However, you can practice verbal memory in various ways. For example, you can use word pairs, story recall, or immediate recall to recall verbal stimuli or information. Verbal memory is also a type of episodic memory, which means it involves stages of learning.
What Does It Mean If You Have High Verbal Memory?
If you have excellent verbal memory, you may be able to complete memory tasks based on word recall from conversations, audio clips, or written words. For example, if someone asks you what word appears most in an audio clip of a conversation, you may be able to recall that conversation enough to remember this information. You may also be able to tell the person the second word said in the conversation or the core themes discussed. Some people with excellent verbal memory may also excel in writing and reading assignments at school or work.
How Long Does Verbal Memory Last?
How long your verbal memory lasts depends on whether the memory is short-term or long-term. Short-term memories last from a few seconds to a few hours, whereas long-term memories are encoded and stored in your brain and can last for years.
An example of short-term memory is remembering a phrase your teacher has asked you to remind them of in ten minutes. After reminding them of the phrase, you likely won’t use it again, so you may put it out of your memory. However, if you must remember a lecture for a future test, you might store this information in your long-term memory and use it for verbal recall later.
What Is Verbal Vs. Nonverbal Memory?
Non-verbal memory involves any memory not based on learning from verbal information or written words. For example, you might use spatial memory to remember the distance between two locations or the location of a missing item. You might use visual memory to remember the color of a lost shirt. You might use echoic memory to recognize a sound as it appears.
How Do You Test Verbal Memory?
You can test verbal memory by trying word games or asking someone to practice with you. Ask someone to list ten words for you to remember out loud. Then, set a timer for one minute. After a minute has passed, repeat the words in order as you heard them. If you don’t remember, try the exercise with fewer words at first.
What Is Verbal Memory Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning disorder that causes difficulty decoding and relating speech to letters and words. It can also cause reading difficulty, causing words to slur together on a page or seem to be written backward. Dyslexia may cause an individual to struggle with verbal memory in some cases. Other causes of difficulty recalling verbal information might include semantic dementia or a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
What Is Verbal Vs. Visual Memory?
Verbal memory involves remembering information that has been spoken or read. Visual memory involves placing information you have visually seen or watched. For example, you might use verbal memory to remember someone’s phone number when they’ve said it out loud. You can use visual memory to visualize a phone number written on a piece of paper or to recall the color of someone’s shirt.
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