In a world where forgetting your phone's unlock code feels like a mini-crisis and remembering where you parked your car sometimes seems like solving a mystery worthy of Sherlock Holmes, wouldn't it be amazing if there was a simple memory hack that actually worked?
Well, science has uncovered an almost too-good-to-be-true secret to boosting brain power. It doesn't involve lifestyle changes, complicated techniques, or hours of brain training.
In fact, it's so straightforward that you might just kick yourself for not trying it sooner. Forget about multitasking your way through life or desperately typing every detail into your smartphone—the key to a sharper memory might just lie in doing absolutely nothing.
Key Takeaways
- Resting with your eyes closed for 15 minutes after learning something new significantly improves memory retention by reducing sensory distractions.
- Closing your eyes boosts creativity by enhancing alpha brain waves, which help generate new ideas and problem-solving.
- Minimizing sensory distractions, such as wearing noise-canceling headphones, can further enhance both memory and creativity.
Helping Your Brain in the Blink of an Eye
According to a study at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, those 15 minutes help solidify your “declarative” memory.
Other types of memory that can be strengthened by resting with your eyes closed include memorizing a “motor sequence task.” That sort of task can include learning dance steps or how to play a game like chess.
More Accurate Memory
In the Furman study, people were trained to memorize and type a particular sequence of numbers—like a password or phone number. In trying to recall the task in which they were trained, folks who sat with their eyes closed for a 15-minute rest could remember what to do more accurately than those who spent their break time distracted by a video game.1
The Furman researchers point out that keeping your eyes closed helps your brain consolidate what you just learned because it cuts back on sensory input to your brain. They note that with your eyes closed, less of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is released from the brain’s neurons and that frees up more of your brain to focus on its memory functions.
On the other hand, if your eyes are open and you’re engaging with the world around you, neurons will be tied up with deciphering what’s going on in your immediate environment instead of helping you firm up the new skills you acquired a few minutes before.
As David Williams, the director of Rochester University’s Center for Visual Science, points out, “More than 50 percent of the cortex, the surface of the brain, is devoted to processing visual information.”2
So, when your eyes are open, there’s a lot of extraneous neuronal processing going on!
Get More Creativity with Your Eyes Closed
There’s also scientific evidence that you can enhance your creativity when you work on a task with your eyes closed. Researchers in the Netherlands have found that when it comes to generating creative ideas, suppressing your input of visual information by closing your eyes helps your brain.3
These tests of creativity consisted of constructing sentences that had to be put together following specific rules or finding alternative uses for everyday objects. Scientists found that closing the eyes during these tasks significantly boosted the ability to think outside the box.
Research confirmed that having your eyes closed boosts the production of the brain’s alpha brain waves, which are linked to creativity. It also increases the brain’s alpha “power,” which is your ability to imaginatively formulate interior mental images of new situations.
An investigation in Japan turned up parallel findings.
In the Japanese study, researchers asked people to come up with different names for things like rice and tea. Keeping the eyes closed multiplied people’s creativity dramatically.4
Finding Ways to Block Distractions
Many of the researchers involved in these studies believe that wearing noise-canceling headphones or floating in an isolation tank may provide extra help in walling off your brain from sensory distractions that impair memory and creativity. They may be right!
While an isolation tank may be out of the question, my friends with young children often rely on headphones or earplugs during their work day to drown out the noise of children playing and squabbling.
As for me, I’ll stick to merely closing my eyes to improve my mental concentration. It’s a simple—and free— method that’s always available no matter where you are. And it’s backed by a lot of research!
And, after all of this, if you're still struggling with mental focus and memory, you can also try one of the many nootropic supplements scientifically proven to improve cognitive function.
Summary
In an age of information overload, improving memory can be as simple as taking a break. Research from Furman University shows that resting with your eyes closed for 15 minutes after learning something new helps solidify your memory. Closing your eyes reduces sensory input, allowing your brain to focus on memory consolidation. This technique also enhances creativity by boosting alpha brain waves linked to creative thinking. For improved memory and creativity, the key is to minimize distractions and give your brain space to process information.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can closing my eyes improve my memory?
Closing your eyes reduces sensory input, allowing your brain to focus more on consolidating what you've learned.
Does this technique work for creativity as well?
Yes, closing your eyes enhances creativity by increasing alpha brain waves, which are linked to imaginative thinking.
How long should I rest with my eyes closed to see benefits?
Research suggests that 15 minutes of rest with your eyes closed is enough to improve memory and creativity.
Can this help with memorizing motor tasks?
Yes, resting with your eyes closed helps consolidate both factual memory and motor sequence tasks, like learning dance steps or typing a sequence.
Is there a way to block out other distractions to help with focus?
In addition to closing your eyes, noise-canceling headphones or earplugs can help reduce distractions and further enhance focus and creativity.
