Room 5 · Observatory
What works, and what doesn’t
The memory business is full of promises. This is where we check them against the research, with the sources, and say plainly what holds up.
The verdicts
How to read the colours Strong evidence Good evidence Mixed, or a trade-off Weak or no evidence
Weak transfer
Brain-training games
You get better at the games. Transfer to everyday memory is weak.
Read the evidence →Trainable
Photographic memory
Not a gift you’re born with. Detailed visual memory can be trained.
Read the evidence →Strong evidence
Mixed evidence
Exercise
A workout can help you remember what you learn right after. Long-term effects in healthy adults are small or unclear.
Read the evidence →No convincing evidence
Supplements
For healthy adults, none has convincing evidence that it improves memory.
Read the evidence →Trade-off