Techniques to Improve Memory

Since the time we start understanding and perceiving things, we wish we had some superpower. Thoughts about what exactly the superpower should be, change from situation to situation. For example, during every important exam, one wishes to have brains like a computer (isn't it a fine example of paradoxical simile!). The never ending pages of books and the blankness that occurs after looking at the question paper, makes the wish more strong! But most of us do not realize that one does not need to have and IQ of 140 to memorize things! With some simple techniques to improve memory, one can memorize anything. Improving memory is not a Herculean or medical task, it only involves a few psychological and technical tricks, which once acquired help throughout the life.

What is Memory?

In simple words, memory is the mental activity of the brain of recalling the information from the past. There are two types of memories, short term memory and long term memory. As the name suggests, short term memory stores information only for a few seconds or minutes. Like the time you take to dial a phone number, surf the channels on TV etc. On the other hand, long term memory is the memory which one tries to save consciously or unconsciously. Like, the phone number of your dad or your address are conscious efforts, whereas a memorable moment or a bad incident are unconsciously stored in the long term memory. Factual information generally requires conscious efforts to recall the stored memory. The techniques to improve memory make this process of recalling easier, let us see how.

6 Techniques to Sharpen Memory

The following are six popular techniques of improving memory, that are used throughout the world.

1. Rhyming: This is one of the most interesting and old techniques of memorizing. Do you ever wonder how you can still memorize the childhood rhymes like 'twinkle twinkle'? It was only because these poems had a rhyming scheme and tune. A rhyming scheme or rhythm makes the task of memorizing easy. It is also fun to create a rhyming poem out of the boring syllabus. This method is mostly used to memorize numbers and theorems as they are easy to rhyme. You can also substitute important keywords to numbers like; 'one is a ton, two is stew' for memorizing a grocery list!
2. Chunking: Chunking refers to the method of breaking lengthy information into small groups. It works best when the order of information is not important. This method is believed to be helpful in memorizing numbers, however in my view it is more useful to remember the important events in history! For example you have to remember the birth date of Abraham Lincoln. It can be difficult to remember 12 2 1809. So instead, you break the numbers, 1221809 into chunks of two, i.e. 12 02 18 09. Short term memory can store up to 7 chunks, so you do not need to worry about forgetting the date. In the same manner you can memorize the ten digit cell phone numbers also.
3. Acronyms: This method is useful to memorize group of words. All you have to do is, make an acronym using the first letter of the subheads or important words of a paragraph, the words which will instantly help you in remembering the whole matter. For example, if you have to study the causes of less rainfall, you can make an acronym of the common causes like Deforestation, Excessive use of resources, Pollution etc., so the acronym will be DEP, if you cannot remember DEP, associate it with something that you can easily remember, like Johnny DEPP!
4. Reciting Before Bed: This is a simple way for remembering anything. As the name suggests, recite or rote the study matter just before sleeping. When you are asleep, the brain will arrange the information in an effective as well as systematic way which will help you to memorize the matter easily the next day.
5. ACROSTICS: ACROSTICS is a technique similar to acronym. In this technique however you do not make a word, you make a sentence. For example, you have to remember, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Genus, Species. By using this technique you can make a sentence like Kings Paul Came Over for the Genes Special which will help you to remember Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Genus, Species.
6. The LOCI Method: This is a different method which uses the visualization power. Suppose you have to memorize a speech. Start visualizing a place which you are very familiar with, like your home. Visualize the path from your gate to the porch, from the porch to the living room, from the living room to your bedroom etc. Now along with each pathway, associate a paragraph of the speech Like the introduction of the speech from the gate to the porch, the important points of the speech from the porch to the living room and the conclusion form the living room to your bedroom. The number of landmarks should depend on the number of things you want to memorize.

These were some of the best techniques to improve memory. Do try all of these and then decide the best for yourself. Along with these techniques, also keep your mind peaceful as only a sound mind can concentrate and store information!