6 Quick & Simple Techniques to Boost Memory

Sometimes, you feel that you are unable to memorize typical concepts/facts while others are able to memorize and it leads to awkward situation when your teacher asks you some historical event with dates in front of a class, and you are unable to memorize.

Actually,it is really true that every person have equal capacity of memory but the real distinction arises How One develops his own working memory ?. Our brain is divided into two parts left part of the brain is logical and analytical while the right one is imaginative and emotional and the left part of the brain is short-term while the right part of the brain is long-term.So you have to use the mix of both to efficiently utilize your memory.

Today, we will discuss Six research proven  quick and simple techniques one by one that you can use in practice to improve your memory which will be helpful to you in every aspect of your life, especially in examinations.

First one, is  try to study in Multiple Short Learning Sessions rather than in one long session. 

One day,some of the researchers experimented by dividing two groups with different tasks. One group has given the task of learning the 50 pages document at  a stretch of 10 hours of study  while the other group has given the task of reading the same 50 pages document in  repeated multiple sessions of 30 minutes with short intervals after every session.Researchers found the most surprising fact that the second group memorize the information of the lengthy document around 80% but the first group just remembers only around 40% that's really surprising .

So, it is just a myth to study for 10 long hours of non-stop study will be helpful for you before your examination.

It is better you take some regular multiple short intervals between your studies to improve your long term memory and use it efficiently when you go for your examination.

It is basically, a learning technique that maximizes the brain’s ability to make and store memories and it may help overcome cognitive issues seen in fragile X syndrome, an inherited genetic condition that causes intellectual and developmental disabilities and is commonly associated with autism. Symptoms include difficulty learning new skills or information, according to UC Irvine neurobiologists.

Second one, is try to Learn At Specific Times when your brain is more active. Actually,our brain is not keep on active stage at every time.Some of the times brain becomes more active in early morning while some of the time it becomes more active in evening or in late night.

Try to find out the time when your brain is more active stage and try to learn new concepts/facts/information during this time and learn less important/ priority topics during other times.

Third one , use Flash Cards to memorize quickly

When learning new information, or preparing for a test, flash cards can be a great way to review lots of information quickly. They are easy to make, and easy to use because you can take them anywhere.

Keep it simple, cut a sheet of paper into 8 or 10 pieces, or purchase a pack of blank index cards
DO THIS EARLY! Minimum 2-3 days before your quiz or exam

Write the concept or vocabulary word on the front of the card, and its respective explanation on the back. Keep these cards with you at all times whether you are in morning walk,traveling to school,during journey in a bus or train etc.

Keep these cards in a front pocket, handbag or backpack which is easily accessible to you at any time.

Fourth one , is  Spaced Interval Repetition 

At the time of examination,I've always been a crammer i.e., rote learning.
In the short term it may be the most effective way of stuffing a large number of facts into your head. The downside, is that information learned by cramming  is short-lived in the long-term.

In fact, the decline in memory retention over time is exponential! This inevitable decay in our ability to recall memorized information was discovered by a a German psychologist called Hermann Ebbinghaus. The ‘Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve’ is shown below:

So, according to this curve, when we first read any concept or information after immediate recall it retains in our memory about 100% but after 20 minutes only 60% of the concept left in our memory,again after 1 hour only 44% of the concept left in our memory and so on after 1 month concept will completely vanished from our memory.

So,if you want to improve your memory retention or want to stop decaying of information from your memory especially at the time of examination, you have to follow Spaced Interval Repetition Schedule.

First Review -> Immediately

Second Review -> 24 hours

Third Review -> One week

Fourth Review -> 1 month

Fifth Review -> 3 months


In Latin there is a saying "Repetitio est mater studiorum" means Repetition is the Mother of Learning.

Note :- But always remember before blindly repeating the concept first try to recall/review what you have learnt so far, then repeat.  

This means that we have to test ourselves.Psychologists call this  strategy as the outcome of "testing effect" and it was beautifully described by Francois Bacon in his psychological work Novum
Organum centuries ago :

“If you read a piece of text through twenty times, you will not learn it by heart so easily as if you read it ten times while attempting to recite from time to time and consulting the text when your memory fails.”
— Francis Bacon, 1620
Repeating Information at regular interval is so much effective that you cannot imagine.Let us take a real life example,when repeatedly, we have shown advertisements of particular product on Television we remember those product so that when we go to the market or supermarkets we are able to find or clearly distinguish those products from the bunch of products in the market that we have shown in the advertisement this is actually the market strategy of the companies to retain their products image in people's mind.

Fifth one , is Shout It Loud

Some researchers experimented by giving a list of words to a set of people to learn by dividing some words to read silently while some by reading them loud.The result was that the people were able to recall more efficiently all those words that were read loudly than silently.

Actually,when we read silently in our mind we make only visual connection and whenever we read loudly we not only makes visual connection but also makes audio connection.

You can efficiently use this technique by reading important information/concepts loudly so that you will  make an audio connection with it and due to distinction and audio connection as well those important information will retain in your mind with logical sequence.

Last but not the Least one , is Method of Loci

Suppose you have to give an important speech/presentation in front of your class for your final exam. It doesn't matter how many times you have rehearsed the presentation speech, you know you will not be able to memorize every part of it. You don't want to accidentally leave out any necessary details, but you want to impress your audience by not relying on note cards for help. What can you do?

Ancient Greek and Roman orators are  attributed for using the Method of Loci to memorize speeches or extempore.This is the oldest mnemonic strategy where "loci" is the plural of locus, which means location, or place.This method is  based on the presumption that you can best remember places that you are familiar with, so if you can able to relate something you need to remember with a place that you are usually familiar with, then that location will serve as a clue that will help you to remember the things in the logical orders.

HOW IT WORKS ?

Suppose you have been given following list of items for shopping :

shaving cream
peaches
Capsicum
ketchup
ice cream

So, try to visualize what I am just going to say in your mind with pictures. Let's start, first visualize that you are standing just in front door of your house and you are spraying the foam of  "shaving cream" all over the front door  by depressing the nozzle. Also,try to imagine the smell of the shaving cream, as well because it will works best when  you not only just imagine scenario with pictures or thoughts but also have to feel the item as in reality.

Now you open the door, enter the drying room, and imagine a big size peach coming towards you. Now walked into the Bed room, and imagine a eight-foot-tall burger in between burger a capsicum wearing a Devil's hat and giving smile to you. Then you entered the dining room and visualize a bottle of ketchup, dressed in a maid's uniform, setting up the table. Finally, you go to the kitchen and picture a brick of ice cream, melting as it lying  over a hot stove.

You can use this method to remember lists of items, important points in a speeches, names of people at an event or meeting, things you need to do, even a thought you want to keep in mind. This method works well because it changes the way you memorize.As the locations are organized in an order that you know well, one memory flows into the next very easily in your desired ordering.

Hope, guys you like these memory techniques and it will surely improve your memory retention when you will apply these techniques in practice.

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References

1. https://lifeinthefastlane.com/

2. http://health.howstuffworks.com/

3. Youtube channel Him-eesh Madaan