The topic of memory enhancement came up in a couple of other threads about other subjects, so I just thought I’d make a topic focused on this, for easier reference in the future.
There are many different methods to help with memory. I understand that 2 types of memory systems are used in Shichida classes, for example, which are memory pegging, and memory linking. Both are used to remember long lists of items.
MEMORY LINKING
This is what Wikipedia said about this:
“After visualizing the first item on your list, visualize it associated with the next item, then visualize that item associated with the third, and so on. For example, to remember a list like “apple, fish, lady, star, stop sign, pencil …” imagine an apple. Now you shall link this apple with a fish by visualizing (for instance) an apple tree with fishes instead of apples-you could even imagine a fish falling on Newton’s head or Eve handing Adam a fish. Remember that it should be weird. Next link the fish with lady by visualizing a mermaid. Next item: Visualize a night sky with shining ladies in the sky instead of stars. Link to stop sign by visualizing a falling star landing on the ground-only instead of a star, when you get up close it’s a stop sign, link “stop sign” with “pencil” by imagining a stop sign which is held up not by a metal post, but by a giant pencil.”
Here’s more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mnemonic_link_system
MEMORY PEGGING
This is a much more commonly used way of memorizing lists.
There seem to be different memory pegging systems. The one thing common in these systems is that, before you do anything else, you must first have memorized a PEG LIST. This is a list of objects or items that you have memorized in order, and which you will later use to associate the new objects with.
One type of simple peg list is based on Rhyme. eg:
- Hero
- Bun (or Gun)
- Shoe
- Tree
- Door
- Hive
- Sticks
- Heaven
- Crate
- Vine
- Hen
After memorizing the above, if you want to memorize a list of 10 items, you just associate those items with the corresponding object above. Eg., if no. 3 on the list to be memorized is “Picasso”, you might imagine Picasso sitting in a TREE painting a masterpiece.
This method is an example of a “Mnemonic Peg system” (associating numbers with words). See here for more about this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mnemonic_peg_system
To have a list larger than just 0-10, here’s another method:
http://www.thememorypage.net/peg2.htm
PEGGING WITH MAJOR SYSTEM
One way of remember huge long lists is using the pegging system in conjunction with the “Mnemonic Major System”. The system works by mapping each digit (from 0-9) to certain consonants. That way, any number can be mapped to one or more words, and vice versa. For example, no. 41 maps to “rose”.
So in the list you are trying to memorize, let’s say item 41 is “piano”. You would simply associate “piano” with “rose” (eg., imagine a rose on a grand piano).
More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mnemonic_major_system
PEGGING WITH LOCATION/LOCI METHOD
This is similar to the above, except you first associate numbers with locations, or places/objects along a familiar route. Then you would associate the objects on the list to be memorized with those places/objects.
Chris1 posted these videos on other threads, showing the 2006 world memory champion Andy Bell memorizing the order of 10 decks of cards in 20 minutes, and later explaining how he does it:
