Have you ever met someone with an amazing memory? Maybe they can memorize a grocery list or people’s names at a party (I thought this was impossible). No doubt this is a huge advantage in many situations. Imagine not switching tabs fifty times to check information, only to switch back and forget again đ.
Imagine how productive youâd be!
Although there is a genetic component to good memory, it can easily be trained. Researchers have found that individuals with average memory capabilities can significantly improve their memory using a special technique.
Types of Memory
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the specific technique, itâs important to understand the four types of memories we have.
- Sensory Memory holds sensory information for very brief periods of time, usually 1 second or less. The processing of memories and other information begins in this type of memory.
- Working Memory is a type of memory that involves the immediate and small amount of information that a person actively uses as they perform cognitive tasks. We use this type of memory when solving a complex math problem or participating in a debate.
- Short-Term Memory allows you to recall specific information about anything for a brief period – around 30 seconds. This is limited to 7 plus or minus 2 items.
- Long-Term Memory is any memory we can still recall after 30 seconds. These memories range in significance – from recalling the name of a friendly face at your local coffee shop to important bits of information like a close friendâs birthday or your phone number.
Scientists are still going back-and-forth about the specifics of each type and further breaking them down into sub-types, however, there is a general consensus that we all have these four types of memories.
Memory Athletes
Enter the world of memory athletes – they go toe-to-toe with one another to see who can remember the most stuff. They can encode and recall an insane amount of information with astonishing precision. Rajveer Meena correctly recalled 70,000 digits of pi. And Ryu Song has the record for most binary digits memorized in 30 minutes, she was able to memorize 4,620 random numbers in an hour!
The best part?
A study published in Neuron found that these feats are âacquired through deliberate training in mnemonic strategiesâ and not âextraordinary brain anatomy or general cognitive superiority.â
So how do they do it?
Mnemonic Devices
A Mnemonic Is a fancy word for a memorization tool. Through various tricks, mnemonic devices can help you remember anything from phone numbers to long lists to other things that would be otherwise difficult to remember.
Acronyms and Acrostics
Do you remember trying to memorize the great lakes? I was taught to use the following acrostic in grade 5 and never forgot it.
Huron
Ontario
Michigan
Erie
Superior
The acronym “ROYGIBIV” can help you remember the colours of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet).
Songs and Rhymes
This technique involves creating a song or rhyme to remember information. Melodies and rhythms can help encode information in a memorable way. For example, the alphabet song is a popular mnemonic for remembering the order of letters in the alphabet using a simple tune.
Chunking
Chunking involves breaking down information into smaller, more manageable parts or “chunks.” By organizing information into meaningful groups, it becomes easier to remember. For example, remembering a long string of numbers like a phone number (e.g., 555-867-5309) is easier when broken down into chunks (555, 867, 5309).
Association
Association involves linking new information to existing knowledge or mental images. By creating connections between concepts, it becomes easier to recall the information later. This can involve using visual imagery, analogies, or personal connections. For example, to remember the order of planets in our solar system, one might associate each planet with a familiar object or create a story linking them together.
Method of Loci (Memory Palace)
The Loci Technique, also known as the Memory Palace technique, is the one that most memory athletes use. I have started to use this one too – it really works. It originates from ancient Greek and Roman orators. It harnesses the spatial memory of the human brain to encode and retrieve information effectively. Let’s dive deeper into the intricacies of the Loci Technique and explore how you can use it to unlock memory mastery.
Understanding the Loci Technique
At its core, the Loci Technique capitalizes on the brain’s innate ability to associate information with spatial locations. The method involves mentally visualizing a familiar environment, such as a house or a route youâre very familiar with, and associating specific pieces of information with distinct locations within that space. As you mentally navigate through the environment, you can effortlessly recall the information by retracing your steps.
Creating Your Memory Palace
The first step in using the Loci Technique is to choose a familiar location to serve as your “memory palace.” This could be your home, school, or any place you know well.
Encoding Information
Now that you have your memory palace, it’s time to encode the information you want to remember. Visualize vivid and memorable images representing the information and associate each image with a specific location in your memory palace. For example, if you’re memorizing a list of groceries, you might visualize a giant apple sitting on your kitchen counter. The crazier the visualization is, the more memorable it will be – so go nuts.
Journey of Recall
When it comes time to recall the information, mentally revisit your memory palace, retrace your steps through your palace. As you mentally “walk” through the space, the associations you’ve created will trigger the recall of the encoded information. With practice, you’ll find that your ability to recall items will improve BIG TIME! Youâll be able to do it faster and remember more items.
Benefits and Applications
The Loci Technique offers a multitude of benefits beyond simple memory enhancement. By engaging spatial memory, this method stimulates various regions of the brain, promoting cognitive flexibility and creativity. Additionally, the technique can be applied to virtually any type of information, from memorizing speeches and presentations to mastering new languages and historical facts.
What the Research Says
The most interesting research is a publication in Neuron from 2017. Researchers split participants into three groups. The first was a control group that did no memory training. The second was the âactiveâ group that did dual-n-back exercises. The third group trained their memory using the memory palace technique.
Each group was tasked with memorizing 72 words, and were asked to recall them in 20 minutes, 24 hours and then again in 4 months. These were the results:
Pretty amazing!
Subjects who underwent six weeks of training in mnemonic methods, including the method of loci, demonstrated a significant improvement in memory performance. In addition, researchers observed actual changes in brain functioning and connectivity on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) exams. Patterns resembled those of the memory athletes.
The improvements in memory were observable for as long as four months following the conclusion of the training.
How to Train
Try it out yourself. I do this every few days by asking ChatGPT to generate 20 random objects. The prompt I use is âGenerate 20 random objects so I can train my memory using the memory palace techniqueâ. I have seen significant gains in just a few months!
