A Reliable Memory Method Based on Ancient Practices

"Memory is the premier determiner of who we are and how we think. As Samuel Johnson put it in 1759, “Memory is the primary and fundamental power without which there could be no other intellectual operation.” One has to spend only a few minutes in conversation with someone unfortunate enough to be suffering from Alzheimer’s or one of the other dementias affecting memory to appreciate the accuracy of Johnson’s statement. Serious memory lapses interfere with the ability to recall past events, put current happenings in context, or imagine possible future scenarios."

"Fortunately, we can exert considerable control over our memory powers. Systems for memory enhancement, while traceable at least as far back as the Greeks, are all based on three principles. First, we can’t remember anything clearly unless we pay attention to it. “The true art of memory is the art of attention,” as Johnson described the process. Second, pictures or other visual depictions are more easily remembered than verbal descriptions."

"Think of a parrot, for instance. Now describe it for me. Your description will be based on your best efforts, remembering the parrots you have encountered throughout your life. But unless you are an avian veterinarian or parrot aficionado well acquainted with parrots, the description you come up with will likely be deficient in distinguishing the two key features of parrots. Parrots differ from other birds by 1) the possession of a curved hook-like beak and 2) the arrangement of the toes with two toes facing forward and two toes pointing backward (zygodactyl)."

"Developmentally we can perceive and recognize before we can name. Temporary failures of naming are much more common than failures of identification. In forming memories, a picture really is more informative than a thousand words."

Memory determines identity and thinking. Severe memory impairment, such as in Alzheimer’s or other dementias, disrupts recalling past events, interpreting present situations, and imagining future possibilities, and can eventually eliminate these capacities. Memory can be strengthened through three principles. Clear remembering requires attention to what is being learned. Visual depictions are easier to remember than verbal descriptions, because they preserve distinctive details that descriptions often miss. Temporary failures of naming are more common than failures of identification, reflecting that recognition can occur without immediate verbal labels. In forming memories, a picture provides more information than many words, improving recall and accuracy.

Read at Psychology Today