Before we start, here is a simple exercise. Imagine for a moment a green cat, the size of a
car, rollerblading over the Golden Gate Bridge. Seriously. Stop reading, close your eyes, and
see that image in your mind's eye. Do this for thirty seconds. We'll come back to this exercise
in a moment.
Previously you saw that memory is a network of neurons. The brain learns by associating new
information with existing information. It adds new networks to existing networks of neurons. We
can use this knowledge to our advantage via "association" techniques. Let's look at another
exercise to highlight this.
If you have just tried the exercise, you may notice it's easier to remember the list of
fifteen items when we tied them together in a story. We associated each item in the list with
the previous one. We also associated each item with some activities we are already familiar
with, even if they don't always make sense.
This is a simple example of association at work. Association helps you quickly memorize a
wide range of information, including lists, checklists, procedures, facts, formulas, numerical
data and more. While it may sometimes take some effort to create the association, the benefit is
longer retention.
In this section I discuss association techniques. We start out by covering some general
principles of association, as well as some basic association techniques you may already be
familiar with. We then cover linked lists, peg words and peg events. Lastly, we discuss two
Method of Loci techniques.
Many of the heavily marketed, and expensive, memory systems use association. If you are
considering buying one of these courses, check to see they are not just the same techniques in
different packaging.
How the brain uses association by expanding existing neural networks, including
relationships, structures, hierarchies, and categories.
What attributes of memories help longer retention, such as the senses, emotions,
situations, categorization, exaggeration and combinations. This could include using vision,
sound smell, touch, taste, symbols, movement, location, comedy, absurdity, offensive
situations, rude situations, amplification, reduction, ordering and numbering. Which emotions
to avoid, such as sadness and anger, and why.
The steps you normally follow when first creating an association, including examples.
Covers choosing the key word, choosing target image, linking them together with a primary
attribute link, adding secondary links, and testing it out.
Basic rules, such as purity and keeping them simple.
Detailed example that shows how to create an association. Uses polar bears to remind us
that functions of oil are engine cooling, shock absorption, protection, cleaning, sealing and
lubricating.
The importance of practice while learning how to associate. Association is used by those
who win the international memory championships, so with practice you can make use of
association in your own learning endeavors.
How everyday use of association helps improve your ability to associate, similar to what
one memory author calls the "Self-Enhancing Matrix."
The importance of using your imagination. Younger children seem to do it well — perhaps
general pruning of neurons and synapses that occurs as we go through childhood is more to do
with our society imposing limits on a child's imagination and creativity, rather than any
biological process.
Some general side effects of association including higher creativity and problem solving
skills.
Details on two basic mnemonic techniques that you may have already come across or used.
These are first letter, or acronym, mnemonics, and acrostic mnemonics.
An example of an aviation or flight checklist — ie how pilots use first-letter mnemonics
for checklists (the FIST pre-lineup check, for checking flaps, fuel pump, instruments,
switches and transponder)
Another example for taking photos (how a photographer could remember to check film,
composition, focus, depth, flash, light, and surroundings, and keep the camera still).
How acrostic mnemonics use a phrase to remember information. Examples include "Every Good
Boy Deserves Fruit" (notes on a treble clef) and "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine
Pizzas" for represents the nine planets of the Solar System.
How to combine them, and use of rhyme and rhythm
Why you need to know the content behind the mnemonic before you use these techniques, and
how you can use other techniques (such as visualization) to assist this.
How peg events help you remember to do something at a particular point in time.
Some typical peg events that you can start with, such as before leaving for work, before
going to bed, arriving at the supermarket, getting into the car, meeting someone for the first
time, arriving at school, docking a yacht, etc
The origins of the method of loci — from ancient Greek times. Orators, philosophers and
others had to rely on memory for retaining speeches and knowledge in general
How the method of loci works — associating information with specific locations, or loci.
Typical locations you can use. How to select them. Examples of larger structures, such as
creating mental buildings, towns, palaces and cities.
Includes general principles, and two common techniques — the mental journey or story
technique, and the "Roman Rooms" technique.
General principles include how to select locations and guidelines for size, brightness,
details, dynamic objects, familiarity
Mental journey or story technique — how to associate items along a path or journey (eg a
train route). Includes basic steps to create a mental journey, as well as an example of
memorizing six key points in a sales presentation. The example links points such as delivering
savings to their business, improving product quality, addressing key concerns of staff,
reducing wastage etc, with your normal morning routine of getting out of bed, brushing teeth,
eating breakfast and walking out the door.
Roman rooms — similar to mental journey except locations are based on objects in a room.
General principles for using this technique, as well as ideas for extending it. For example,
create your own learning campus for your topic.
