Brain function principles applied to learning techniques.

Every brain is structured in the same way. However, it seems that some people are naturally more capable to memorize numbers and stories better than others. Often unconsciously, they have developed a system to hone their memory skills. Basic principles and continuous and consequent application can increase the receptiveness and learning aptitude of the mind.   

 

Many people already use such memory aiding techniques, called mnemotechnics or mnemonics (from the Greek mneme = memory). For example when spelling arithmetic: A Rat In The House May Eat The Ice Cream.   

But we don’t just want to learn isolated tricks, but rather different techniques. These skills will enable us to develop personal learning strategies. There are different techniques such as pictures, rhymes, acronyms, acrostics, codes, jokes or stories, we can apply.   

Three principles can be particularly helpful when applied to a learning technique; these are:   

1. Visualization

2. Association

3. Intelligent repetition

1. Visualization

Visualization, or pictorial imagination, is what we have done since birth. It can be described as the ability to draw mental pictures. Most adults have unlearned this, since they were told as children: “look at me when I am talking to you!” such demands gradually destroy the ability to visualize. Luckily this can be re-learned easily.

2. Association

Associations refer to connecting elements together. We have to construct an image of two elements and then connect those images together. For example: guitar and train. Here we could picture a train which is running on tracks that are made up of a row of guitars. Then we can link the image of the train to a further element and build a story line. It is easier to remember these stories when the associations are lively and colorful, even absurd and drastic. We remember this better than something ‘ordinary’.

3. Intelligent Repetition

Repetition of isolated facts, the way it has been exercised in school, is ineffective. Intelligent repetition refers to the association of visual images and construction of picture stories. These images and picture stories are retained in our memory. At this point I would like to introduce two techniques that are easily mastered and might provide a ‘jump start’ for you to engage further in the topic: symbolic association and location association