Good Memory: Techniques and Tips

Have you ever felt that as the time passes, it is difficult to remember the spelling of a word, the combination of a verb?

A formula that you believe well remembered?

Our memory has an unlimited storage option. But this optimal use requires a good mastery of memory techniques. The more we master, the easier

will be the return of memories or data we need. Each of the tasks we do every day is a different memory type.

Eg: The episodic memory stores the events that occurred in our lives one time and place. It saves the information in its emotional context.

The semantic memory contains our knowledge about the world, our bank of words with their meanings. And the procedural memory allows to perform tasks that are repetitive.

How does your memory store information?

First, the brain maintains for a brief moment, the data bodies such as sight, smell, touch, hearing etc. Then it treats them in short-term memory to transform and prepare them for disposal or long term storage. The brain does not have a system of automatic registration information. To be better recorded, the information must be encoded. It's like the role played by a Modem. But how?

To store, the first method we use is repetition. It is that used by most people. It is most often the case that if we say something, whether a phone number or a list of articles we are likely to remember. The repetition allows the brain to form a stronger connection with the elements to remember. But this strategy is valid for something more complex.

What is the best way to memorize a speech for example? Obviously repetition is always useful. The more you practice your speech, the more you'll be better able to remember the great lines. However, another technique that may help you is to use the cluster. This is to consolidate elements of your intervention, or at least the key ideas in each section, and then try to associate with something familiar. Hierarchical memory links always store the main ideas.

The best technique to do is to associate the element with something that is easy to remember. This technique fails if the element is also something that is difficult for you to remember.

Eg: There are two key concepts to remember a list of articles.

1) We have to convert each element in to a striking image.

2) The links between these images have to be associated with actions that are as striking as possible.

To remember your course faster and to achieve good grades, here are some tips:

a. Before the course begins, try to learn the subject ahead. If possible find multimedia information (video, audio or visual demonstrations etc.).

b. During the course, direct the attention to understand the subject rather than taking notes word to word.

c. To have an effective system of note taking, use predetermined markers, structures or abbreviations etc.

d. Finally just after the course is finished, re-organize this notes quickly and extract the key points in the form of memory-aids or summary sheets.

This enables you to work more easily and absorb the subject more effectively.

Remember that the best way to memorize things is to practice effective mnemonics. So you can use your memory to get whatever you want in life like you can impress your friends and achieve your goals more easily. Always keep in mind that, practice makes man perfect and the more you practice the memory techniques the sharper your brain will be.