Introduction

As the core of our day-to-day processes, it is natural that memory is complicated. Memories are formed by your brain selectively choosing information from your senses and experiences. This means that the majority of data processed is lost, and forgotten about.

However, it is possible to forcibly remember information, if needed. This is seen all the time in school environments where revision techniques are taught, and resources provided (such as BBC Bitesize), however this article is based around techniques that are applicable to everyday environments and experiences. Memories are made by electrical signals making connections between neurons and special cells called synapses, with typically one neuron associated to 10,000 synapses. As the links between ideas, thoughts and feelings grow, a neural network is created. It's possible to improve your memory using special techniques that strengthen this network, making it easier to recall things that would normally be difficult to commit to long-term memory. Presented below are four mainstream techniques employed by professionals every day to improve their memories.

Background

Memory is made up of three sections – sensory, short-term and long-term. All the data gathered from your senses enters the sensory memory – from here any information that's ignored is thrown out, whilst information that you pay attention to passes on into the short-term memory. You can't remember something that you never even knew, so if you don't pay attention, information will never enter your short-term memory. If you want to improve your memory and take in information, it is vital to concentrate and not allow yourself to be distracted.

Chunking

Some of the things you try to memorise mean nothing to you - they may be isolated facts or strings of numbers. Short-term memory has a limit of about five items, so dividing up long sequences of data into more easily remembered "chunks" helps you to remember them. This is the way that most people remember telephone numbers.

Associations

Making links between objects – called association – can help improve your memory. You can make associations that match numbers to pictures, organize words into groups or link a person with an image so that you never forget a name – anything that makes it easier for you to remember. One way to memorise a list is to visualise a journey that you often take. Link each landmark on the journey with an item on your list – the stranger the result, the easier it is to remember! Then go through the journey in your head to remember the items.

Mnemonics

Another trick for remembering a set of words is to use their first letters to make up a sentence or mnemonic. For example, "map vipers eat many jungle snacks using nails" gives you the sequence of the planets - Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune. It's a ridiculous sentence, but these are sometimes the most memorable.

Mnemonic Systems

Mnemonic systems are an advancement to the mnemonic techniques. Mnemonic systems are used by memory professionals, and are, hence their difficulty in mastering techniques. There are many mnemonic systems on the market (including the Linking, Peg and Loci systems), which range in complexity and functionality. The basis to all mnemonic systems are clever ways of taking ANY set of objects and being able to form memorable images from them; kind of like the "map vipers eat many jungle snacks using nails" example used in remembering the order of the planets. Explaining mnemonic systems in detail is a vast topic, and is covered in more detail in a later article, so stay tuned for that! The technique is advanced and takes time to perfect, but the benefits are immediately obvious; for example, Derren Brown uses mnemonic systems to remember the order of many decks of cards simultaneously.

Further reading

Listed here are only a small overview of memory techniques, and certain readers looking for more information should look at Train your Brain to be a Genius, a book by Dorling Kindersley. Until the 30th of November, you can win the 'Train Your Brain To Be A Genius' book here on Darren Beige, just in time for Christmas!

Train your Brain to be a Genius

For more tips on how to improve your memory, plus loads of other brain training techniques and insight, check out Train your Brain to be a Genius. Find out how your amazing brain works and explore the incredible potential of your mind. Put your brain to the test with puzzles, games and optical illusions to fine-tune your brainy bits.

Look inside
Buy now