How People Memorize Viewed on a Brain Scan

After viewing the movements of brainwaves while a test subject walks through an unknown terrain, the initial scientific response finds two different memorization methods. These findings lead to more theories about how people do it.

According to the researcher, Amy Shelton, of John Hopkins University two definite patterns emerge. The end results lead to classifying a certain type of personality.

The field of psychology gaining insight into personality types

If a person takes shortcuts, it means one type. Another type needs repetition to memorize.

Test subjects who take shortcuts while exploring in the virtual world are location oriented. Being in a different position or viewpoint while memorizing gives a variety of memory "tags" for these types of thinkers.

The subjects who take repeat pathways each virtual step along the way, are called response learners.

One of the most agreed upon theories about memorization is about what not to say. Don't say you have a bad memory. It's normal to forget. Most of what happens during any ordinary given day is forgotten by the next, unless some kind of memory tag is assigned.

A trauma would be marked by the emotional response, which is formless, and possibly pictorial. These kinds of memories need work to erase, or minimize because they can be emotional stumbling blocks.

Memory tags repeated over a series of days help keep the information in the forefront of the mind.

Newly discovered location memorization has more research coming. Apparently the variety of different places is how some people remember.

In the reverse, self-storing memories created by trauma should be dealt with. As the memory festers in the subconscious without resolution, it can end up causing health problems.

Forgiveness of wrong doings requires a conscious effort. Though it may not be possible to totally forget traumatic memories, when the forgiveness alleviates these, it is kept from becoming a festering wound of the subconscious.

The tip of the ice burg, this particular study must only be a beginning path in one focal point of learning about memory and brainwaves. What will be really interesting is the study of those who think spatially, and how some people think and memorize pictorially. The brainwaves for pictorial memory will surely reveal another dimension as time goes on.