14 July 2012
I thought I'd share something with you all, that I think is particularly useful for students. Or those who work in an environment where they are required to memorise a large amount of information.
It's probably a bit late considering that most of you have finished your exams, but better late than never.
Okay, so I never (used to) revise for exams back when I was a student. Instead I would try in vain to read a whole textbook the night before. I pretty much did this every year until I was 18 and became serious about studying.
And then I went off to uni, and being as undecisive as I was, I took several psychology classes on top of my Politics degree.
In one of the classes I was taught about the capacity of human memory. I became fascinated with it, and discovered George A. Miller.
Miller wrote an article published in 1956, it was called "The magic number seven, plus or minus two". In short, Miller explained that as human beings, the average person can only recall seven pieces of information at one time.
I know you're thinking "hey idiot, I can remember more than seven". The point I'm making is that we can only remember roughly seven pieces of information without grouping them together.
For example, 1, 2, 3, 4, is four pieces of information. Just as 123, 456, 789, 101112, is also four chunks of "grouped information".
Ok, so how do we memorise more information without going insane? The short answer "mnemonics". Ever see that movie Johnny mnemonic? I've only seen the first 10 minutes...anyway, back to mnemonics.
There are several types of mnemonics, I use two which are incredibly useful.
Firstly, the linking method. This one's pretty simple. You create a list of items and link them together.
For example, if I want to remember the list of;
Slippers Trampoline Jackie Chan TV set.
I would imagine putting my slippers on (I don't wear slippers but that's besides the point), jumping on a trampoline whilst watching Jackie Chan on TV.
Simple enough right? This is where it gets interesting. For this to really work you have to use the "Von Restorff" effect.
The Von Restorff effect, in short means that the images you use have to be bright, bold and bizarre.
I'm more likely to remember an image of Michelle Obama if she's 60ft tall and naked...Sorry Barack.
Ok, so Von Restorff effect out of the way...
This is where it get's interesting (again). Other than the linking method, I use another mnemonic commonly known as the Loci method.
The Loci method was actually used in schools way back. But, the puritans banned it for "conjuring up weird images".
Anyway, the Loci method works on locations. The user creates a mind map built on familiar locations. Like a school, your house, work place etc.
In order to use it, you simply place objects you want to remember around the map. Let's start with a home.
As soon as I walk in, there's a six foot mirror by the door. Then there's a canvas painting of a classic car in Cuba, followed by a radiator, and the door to my living room etc.
Feel free to imagine walking through your house (sometimes closing your eyes helps).
Now place items you want to remember around different points in your house. Try to keep a set route, and remember to use the Von Restorff effect. So if you want to remember Martin Luther King, place him somewhere in your house and imagine him wearing some ludicrous clothes and a silly burger king crown or something.
If you need to remember something more difficult, like photosynthesis. I would imagine a bright blue synthesiser covered in photos of plants. But you can do whatever works for more complicated things.
And you can create mind maps in lots of different locations, schools, museums, supermarkets, streets. But, and there's always a but...It won't work in locations that are dark, or where you've had bad experiences.
For those of you familiar with Hannibal Lecter's detailed memory? Hannibal is an extreme example of the Loci method. On a seperate note, Derren Brown is also a user and advocate of the Loci method.
I've found it extremely useful. I'm quite annoyed that I discovered it so late.
I once memorized every book, CD and DVD on a set of shelves to impress a girl...and let me tell you, she was...not impressed. She thought it was weird...but that's besides the point.
I also walked through every accessible hall at my university campus over the period of three months to create another mind map.
And remember to walk through your mind map in your head every now and then to keep it fresh.
That is the Loci Method (as I see it) enjoy.
Memory Tools. • Opuss № I