Why is the expert opposed to the view that memory aids make your memory worse?

W: Do you have trouble remembering people’s names? Do you tend to forget where you put your door key? Then fear not—help is at hand! Today we have with us well-known psychologist Gavin Bonet. Gavin, is there really a way of improving our memories and if so, what are the steps we can take?
M: The first thing to remember is that we can all help ourselves remember effectively by doing quite ordinary things like writing things down, using a diary, a calendar, a notebook, a notice-board, and checking these things regularly. You can use coloured highlighter pens to pick out really important bits of information. Bather than making your brain lazy, as some people think, scientific studies have proved that these aids encourage a very organised and methodical approach , which helps the brain to function effectively.
W: Now, I’ve heard people say, you know, if they want to remember to buy fish for supper they carry around a mental picture of a huge fish flapping on a line. Is there any truth in this? It all sounds a bit strange to me.
M: Centuries ago, the Ancient Greeks developed the system of mnemonics or memory aids. Isolated and fragmented bits of information are very difficult to remember. A mnemonic is a way of linking what you wish to remember with something that means something to you. It could be a mental image, a word, a short poem, and so on. For example, imagine I want to remember the number 1843465. I could link these numbers to personal experiences. 18 is easy—that’s the age I went to university, 4 is the number of children I have, 34 is the number of my house and 65 is the age at which I’m going to retire! Linking things we want to remember with rhymes or colours or visual images is helpful as well. Our lifestyle plays a part in memory too. Eating a healthy diet and taking plenty of exercise and having fresh air all help us to be more clear-headed and less absent-minded.
W: So it’s mind and body together, is that it?
M: Yes, I think so. Scientists are gradually finding out more and more about how the brain works and what we can do to assist its functioning. When taking notes, for example, it has been shown that mapping out notes from a central sphere with lines radiating out in different directions is worth adopting because it reflects the way we link information in the brain. Using different coloured pens for note-taking, not just black, helps the brain too.
W: Are there any differences between men’s and women’s recall ability, do you think?
M: Ah, men are good at remembering directions and phone numbers: women are better at names and appointments. Why, we don’t really know. You have to take into account upbringing as well as innate differences. Factors that seem to be bad for men and women equally are anxiety and worry. These definitely decrease your thinking ability.