Memory is a crucial function that we rely on every day to help us navigate through life experiences, learn from them, and then apply what we have learned to future experiences. In other words, it not only affects how we learn, but also how we adapt to what we learn.
There are science-based memorization techniques that show that memory can actually be improved and enhanced, expanded, and used to our ultimate benefit. Whether it is learning someone’s name or memorizing information for an impending test, actively improving memory and fighting memory decline by using key memorization techniques is very advantageous for any kind of job or lifestyle.
We will cover three memorization techniques that are rooted in science. We will explore what they are, how they work, as well as what we can do to employ them effectively.
First Technique: The Memory Palace
The Memory Palace is a mnemonic device that allows the mind to store large chunks of information. Interestingly, this device has garnered attention, and has been frequently displayed on BBC’s series, Sherlock. However, this is a real memorization technique rooted in science, and is also referred to as the “Method of Loci,” or “Cicero Method.”
With its roots in Ancient Greece, this method seeks to make associations between specific items and visualized spaces, creating a sort of “filing system” that can then store and recall innumerable facts. Usually, the physical space being visualized is somewhere the individual is incredibly familiar with, such as their home.
[!TIP] One example is to begin to visualize going through your house and recalling as many details as possible.
However, actually walking through your home is an option as well. Simply seek to utilize all your senses. The best place to begin is to create an association between an item of information you want to recall with an object or space that is in your home. Creating this visualized map will allow you to recall the information associated with each item when needed.
Second Technique: The Chunking Method
The Chunking Method is a memorization technique backed by science that involves breaking down hunks of information into smaller, more digestible pieces so that it is easier to process and maintain.
[!NOTE] Outlines are indispensable to this end and are helpful in creating categories and subcategories of items.
It also helps individuals to pinpoint the most crucial concepts they wish to focus on memorizing. One example of the Chunking Method is when someone is in the process of learning another language and begins to list vocabulary terms. Simply listing all the terms at once would be overwhelming, but if an outline was created that had different categories — including animals, objects, occupations, and so forth — then vocabulary terms for that specific category could be grouped, or “chunked” under that heading, making it much easier to form associations and enhance recall of the information.
Third Technique: The Generation Effect
The Generation Effect is aptly named due to the fact that material “generated” from an individual’s own mind is much easier for them to recall. In fact, the Generation Effect was noted by researchers in 1978, where a paper published on the topic presented the positive and beneficial effects of engaging with material in a creative, versus passive, way.
One reason the Generation Effect is so effective is that it engages and activates an individual’s semantic memory. Semantic memory refences the knowledge that we have encountered and collected about the world and our experiences. Examples of this type of knowledge include ideas, concepts, and facts.
[!TIP] To use the Generation Effect, taking active notes or simply crafting your own take or version of the material you wish to remember will help you recall it easier.
Engaging with it in a creative way that stems from your own imagination will help you remember it at a later date. All in all, we engage our memory on a day-to-day basis, and it is crucial for many of our functions — from remembering our neighbor’s names, to our work schedule, to recalling information for an exam or presentation.
While there are some individuals who believe that memory decline is inevitable and cannot be helped, science and research has presented memory tips and techniques that can not only combat this process but enhance and expand our memories so that we can function at an optimal level daily.