Memory aids

[Miss Chicken]

I was looking at this article about memory tricks It listed 10 tricks (and the article expands on each one)

1. Draw Mind Maps.

2. Learn with all your senses

3. Learn by doing

4. Use linking tools as memory pegs

5. Make those links visual

6. Make your links physical

7. Make your links in rhyme

8. Practice, practice, practice

9. Memorize initial letters

10. Get emotionally involved.

I think I learn best by 3) learn by doing 5) making visual links and by 9) memorising initial letters.

and example of 5) for me is remember that the island of Monserrat was evacuated after a volcanic eruption by visualising a gigantic rat (Monster Rat) running from a volcano.

I remember the states of the USA by knowing how many start with each letter of the alphabet.

What works best for you - examples would be appreciated as I can steal your ideas.

 

[Mr Silver]

Fortunately, I have an exceptional memory. However, on the occasions where I need to learn something unfamiliar, such as the correct way of doing something, (like tying a particular knot) I find that number 8 helps - or practise, practise, practise.

Nothing like good old fashioned muscle memory.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I don't think I have the patience to practice, practice, practice.

 

[SmoothieX]

I remember the states of the USA by knowing how many start with each letter of the alphabet.

We Americans pride ourselves in not knowing a thing about geography. I've been to 40 of the 50 states and still couldn't name some of them if you handed me a blank map. Especially some of the big square states in the West.

Heaven help us if you handed most of us a map of another continent.

 

[thestrangequark]

^I can name them all in alphabetical order, in less than a minute. But that's because they taught us a song in the 4th grade. That's another interesting memory trick: using music.

 

[auntiehill]

I can remember the states only by visualizing a map in my head then trying to fill it in, from one side or the other.

Usually, writing something down helps me remember it. For some reason, the act of physically writing it out longhand, as opposed to typing it, makes it stick in my brain.

Singing things also helps. Thanks to Schoolhouse Rock, I'll never forget the Preamble to the Constitution!

 

[RevdKathy]

^I can name them all in alphabetical order, in less than a minute. But that's because they taught us a song in the 4th grade. That's another interesting memory trick: using music.

I can sing the books of the Old Testament in order, on the same principle. What no-one ever tought me was why I might need to.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I don't seem to be able to learn through song. I can't even remember the lyrics to most songs.

As a child I had a terrible time learning the alphabet. I couldn't say the letters in the proper order until I was 10 or 11 years old. I remember being very embarrassed about this.

I can recall the names of many of the people who sailed to Australia on the First Fleet. Not all of them because there were about 1500 but certainly 300 maybe more. If I were to try and list them I start in alphabetical order but would add people through their associations with others. For example I would reach Lt Ralph Clark and then add others I remember through him such as people he mentioned in his journal, people he argued with, the convict woman who had his child, the other person with the first name Ralph.

auntiehill, writing something down also helps me as well, and like you I don't think typing something has the some effect.

 

[thestrangequark]

^Interesting that you can't learn through song. Music is processed by the brain differently than speech, and the same goes for written language and imagery. The theory is that this is the basic reason many of these mnemonics work; the more of your brain that is engaged during learning, the more neuronal connections you will create, and the easier it will be to remember it. This is why writing things makes them easier to remember, too, and the reason behind the difficult font effect -- when people try to remember information presented to them in a difficult to read font they tend to remember more and with better accuracy than those given the same information in an easy to read font. Essentially, the problem-solving parts of their brains become more active trying to decipher a tough font and the increased brain activity improves memory.

My mom used to be really good at remembering song lyrics and learning new songs, but a couple years ago she had some minor neurological damage caused by paraneoplastic syndrome. While her intellect and memory weren't generally much affected, she now not only has difficulty learning new songs, but has forgotten the lyrics to songs she knew for decades.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I was bought up in a home in which my father disliked music. I have no reason why. My Mum could only play her records when Dad wasn't home.

I also have considerable trouble even understanding lyrics but this is a result of having a hearing problem when young. I still have some trouble understanding speech (or singing) if there is music or other sounds in the background.

 

[thestrangequark]

^I've never understood people who don't like music either, my grandmother is the same way. I also have trouble with lyrics and speech at times for the same reason as you. I was deaf as a baby, and had about 20 surgeries between the ages of 2 and 12 to restore my hearing. I didn't speak until 4 and wasn't really intelligible to anyone but my mother until about 6. Noise in the background makes speech very hard for me (especially if the person is facing away and I can't read their lips), and I've always misheard song lyrics, but I do learn music and songs very quickly, and music works as a mnemonic for me.

 

[ngc7293]

I have a learning disability and have trouble remembering, so I use my cellphone for reminders. I have to since I have to take meds for my epilepsy.