Scientists Say Ginkgo May Improve Memory Functions

by Native  Health

New research shows that the herb, ginkgo biloba, may improve human performance on tasks requiring short-term memory.¹

These findings are detailed in a study from Australian and British scientists.

The study participants were given a ginkgo extract for fourteen days and showed improvements in memory-related functions, according to the results.

These functions included working memory and specific brain electrical activity, say R.B. Silberstein and five other scientists in the published study.

Silberstein and colleagues add that the nineteen healthy men who consumed ginkgo biloba tablets showed greater memory task accuracy and different brain waves.

For the memory task, participants who took the herb were handed an irregular polygon-shaped object. Then scientists allowed some time to pass by projecting different shapes on a screen for them.

Afterwards, the volunteers were handed an irregular-shaped object and were asked whether this object was the same as the previous object.

The study shows that the men who consumed ginkgo were 5.1% more accurate on that memory test than men who took the test after consuming only a placebo.

The research also indicates that there were differences in brain wave activity between the ginkgo group and the placebo group.

According to the scientists, brain wave activity was measured with electrodes that were applied to the scalp of the volunteers, men who ranged in age from fifty- to sixty-one years old.

The scientists determined that the volunteers who consumed ginkgo biloba had brain waves with increased amplitude, or strength, in brain regions related to task performance and IQ.

So, this herb shows promise for people who are interested in supporting memory functions.

MemoRise supports brain health and memory functions for help with the common forgetfulness associated with aging.

www.gooddeedsmall.com 

Sources:

1. R.B. Silberstein et al, “Examining Brain-Cognition Effects of Ginkgo Biloba Extract: Brain Activation in the Left Temporal and Left Prefrontal Cortex in an Object Working Memory Task,” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM.