8 techniques proven by science to memorize any subject – Meu Valor Digital

In an information-saturated world, the ability to retain and retrieve relevant information is more important than ever. Regardless of whether you are a student seeking academic excellence, a professional wanting to excel in the job market, or just someone looking to absorb as much of what you read and hear as possible, memory is an essential tool.

In its ongoing quest to unravel the mysteries of the human mind, science has revealed a series of technologies that enhance our ability to memorize. These strategies, based on research and experience, promise to change the way we approach learning, making it more efficient and sustainable.

With that in mind, in today’s article we decided to bring you 8 such proven techniques that promise to help you on your journey to retain any type of information and access it with more speed and accuracy. If you find yourself forgetting an important name, fact, or date, prepare for a revolution in your memorization ability.

Understand how memory works

To truly appreciate the magic – or rather the science – that surrounds memorization practices, it is necessary to have a clear idea of ​​how memory appears in our minds. Because the complex processes of the human brain are too broad to cover in this field, and my expertise is not in neuroscience, we will rely on expert insights on this topic.

As neuroscience expert Daphna Shohamy explains, “Our memory acts like a brain archive that records past events.” In continuation of this vision, a bulletin was issued.How does memory work?From Harvard University, he explains that there are “three main mechanisms responsible for memory functioning: encoding, storage, and retrieval.”

The encoding process relates to the way we absorb and interpret information. By attaching feelings and meanings to this data, through what is known as semantic encoding, we increase the chances of remembering it later.

As for storage, it refers to the amount of information we can store, where this information is stored in the brain and how long it stays there. Two types of memory storage usually stand out: short-term memory (or STM, from the English “short-term memory”) and long-term memory (or LTM, from the English “long-term memory”).

Finally, retrieval is the mechanism by which we access information previously stored in our memory.

By understanding these basic processes, we can apply scientifically proven techniques to improve each of these aspects of memory.

Read also | 4 scientific techniques to learn a new language quickly

Conservation techniques

To work on your memorization, you can start with mnemonic techniques. Mnemonic tools are educational tactics applied to enhance your ability to memorize. Even if you don’t know it, it’s very likely that you already use mnemonic strategies in your daily life to store and access information effectively.

First, I’ll explore some of the most popular of these techniques, and then we’ll move on to other strategies aimed at improving memory.

1. Abbreviations and mnemonic acronyms

You probably already know the power of abbreviations and abbreviations as tools to improve your memory. This method involves forming a new word or phrase using the first letters of each word you want to remember.

For example, to mentally recall the planets of our solar system, you can use the mnemonic abbreviation “My Very Polite Mars Just Surprised Us,” where each initial represents the first letter of each planet, in the order of its proximity to the Sun.

2. Musical mnemonics

If you find it easy to remember the lyrics to a song, but forget what you need to buy at the store, you’re not alone. This is because our brain has an amazing ability to retain catchy melodies. Try to associate the information you need to memorize with a popular song.

For example, if you’re trying to remember elements from the periodic table, try using a melody you’re already familiar with.

3. Mnemonics

Just like musical mnemonics, rhyming mnemonics uses the power of rhythmic patterns to fix information. A classic example is the “I before E, except after C” rule to avoid spelling mistakes in English.

If rhyming isn’t your thing, you can use AI tools like ChatGPT to create mnemonic rhymes for you.

4. Build your own memory palace

Memory palace, also known as the Loci method, is a technique in which you draw a known location, such as your home, and “place” mental images representing the information you want to memorize at different points in that space.

To create your own memory palace, you can start with the following:

• Choose the scenario: Choose a very familiar space, such as the house you grew up in or the route you take to work.
• Identify prominent locations: Take a mental tour of the chosen space and identify specific points, such as the kitchen cabinet, living room sofa, or office desk.
• Linking images to websites: Let’s say you want to remember to buy milk, cookies, and bananas. Give each of these elements a mental image and place them in the highlights you have identified. The sillier and more colorful, the better. Imagine, for example, a river of milk flowing through your kitchen cabinet, a mountain of cookies on your couch, and a bunch of dancing bananas on your desk.

This technique may seem silly, but it is very effective. Nelson Delis, a five-time American memory champion, is one of many who use the Loci method to perform memorable feats, such as memorizing an entire deck of playing cards in order.

Start by reading what you know

Verbalizing what you’ve learned is an effective strategy for committing the information to your short-term memory. This is because this action promotes more active engagement with the content, rather than passive absorption, thus enhancing your ability to remember it later.

Next, I will point out some functional techniques for incorporating the art of public speaking into your repertoire of methods for improving memory.

5. He writes

Contrary to what many may think, writing by hand can be more effective for memorization than simply typing on a computer. One seek Pam A. pointed out Mueller and Daniel M. Oppenheimer in 2014 noted that writing down information by hand enhances retention and understanding of that information.

This happens for two main reasons: the first is to reduce distractions, such as checking emails or social media, and the second is to promote “creative note-taking”, where you restructure information in your own words, which helps with programming.

6. Spaced repetition

The spaced repetition method is to review information at increasing intervals of time, with the goal of transferring this information to long-term memory. This technology is widely used in language learning apps like Duolingo or Rosetta Stone.

To put this into practice, you can create flashcards with new words and review them over increasingly longer periods of time, starting with daily reviews and increasing to weekly or monthly reviews.

7. Offer to save

The human ability to think visually is a powerful tool in learning and memorization. Transforming concepts into visual images or associating names with images can create more powerful neural connections.

For example, if you know someone named Laura, you can imagine her growing lavender flowers. The more vivid and vivid the image, the better it will help you retain the information.

8. Share

By sharing the knowledge you have gained, as is done in the Protégé Effect, you not only enhance your learning, but also enhance memorization. Suppose you are attending a gardening lecture and intend to share information with a friend who is a hobby gardener.

You’ll likely pay more attention, take detailed notes, and even paraphrase what you learn in your own words. This last action, in particular, helps encode information in a more permanent way in your memory.