Do you find it challenging to recall information? We all have moments of brain fog or feeling
forgetful, but what if you could boost your memory by following a simple method?
The Method of Loci may sound like a term that comes straight from a star wars movie – but
in fact, it’s actually a powerful practice used to boost memory!
Also known as the ‘Memory Palace’, The Method of Loci is a technique used to trigger
memory by the association of a specific place. This incredible technique involves creating
your own unique memory landscape, known as a memory palace.
Your memory palace is specific to you, and makes it easier for you to retain key information
for whatever you want to recall. Sounds too good to be true?
Let’s take a closer look at this incredibly beneficial method for boosting memory power…
And reveal how you can boost your memory power by tenfold!
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You may know of someone who has an impressive ability to recall information, and although
it seems like these people are unusually gifted – this may not be the case.
In fact, it may be that these individuals simply organize their thoughts and memories
in more creative and unusual ways. The brain is like a muscle, and it really
is true that if we don’t use it – we’ll lose it!
Training our brain and actively learning and expressing creativity aids in creating new
neural pathways that promote increased memory. This means that although we are all genetically
different, having a ‘good’ memory isn’t necessarily something we are born with – and
it’s definitely something that can be improved! And to do this, we can implement memory-boosting
techniques like the one we’re going to talk about in today’s video.
The Method of Loci was founded over 2000 years ago by ancient Greeks and Romans, and was
initially utilized as a way of memorizing speeches.
In fact, authoritative figures were only deemed as successful and perceived as competent if
they could deliver a speech without referring to their notes!
The method of Loci is simply the method of using visualizations to enhance memory and
recall of information. This method has proven to be one of the most
successful methods to improve memory and enhance recall in a short period of time.
So how does it work? The word Loci is plural for “Locus,” meaning
location. The method of loci involves visualizing a
location or environment you are familiar with. When we are learning something new, it requires
less effort when we associate it with something that we are already familiar with, like a
physical space. This is also known as elaborative encoding,
which basically means connecting new information to pre-existing knowledge or events.
Recalling information is difficult, however, most of us are actually better at using our
spatial memory to recall places and different environments.
By using the method of loci and giving our memories a sense of structure, we provide
ourselves with the missing context and it triggers a stronger memory.
According to the legend, the method of Loci was first used by a Greek poet, Simonides
of Ceos. This famous poet merely escaped the devastating
destruction of a building that was hosting a banquet one night.
He left coincidentally right before the building caved in, killing everyone inside.
The destruction was so great that family members and friends were unable to identify the deceased
guests. This was when Simonides realized that picturing
the spatial layout of the banquet hall allowed him to recall the names of the guests seated
in each place. From this unfortunate experience, Simonides
went on to establish that memory and recall become easier when we associate information
with a physical location we are familiar with. From a very young age, we start to build memories
of our surroundings and start to collect information about the places and people that are familiar
to us. We are able to recollect familiar spaces and
form a relationship to the objects in association with them.
Our ability to take in information and collect memories of our external environment is fast
forming from a young age, and these memories tend to stick with us for a long time.
The method of Loci utilizes our innate capacity for remembering physical spaces and external
environments, and in turn, boosts our ability to remember important information.
Before we fill you in on how to practice this memory-boosting practice...
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So how can we practice the Loci method to boost memory?
Firstly, pick your ‘memory palace’ or a location that you are greatly familiar with.
This may be your bedroom, childhood home or place of work.
Now, take a moment to focus on the details of your surroundings and visualize what it
feels like to be in that environment. Let’s imagine that you're using your home
as your memory palace, and that you want to remember your grocery list.
We’re going to be taking a memory journey through your house, and visualizing each item
being placed in various locations. First up on your grocery list is… apples!
Imagine yourself placing a bag of apples on your doormat. You may like to exaggerate the
items to make it easier for you to recall them.
For example, maybe the apples are extra-large, or you could imagine that they have animated
faces. If you think about it, the more absurd or
unusual the visualization is – the more likely you are to remember it.
In fact, memory specialists recommend placing objects and information in seemingly absurd
places when using the loci method. Similarly, the more detail orientated you
are with the location, the more likely you are to remember the associated object.
Now, let’s recap and run through the method in five easy steps to make it easier for you
to put this technique into practice. Step one - pick your memory palace and define
your route. Once you’ve chosen a memory palace, you
can now decide how you would like to move through it. This is particularly helpful if
you need to remember things in a specific order.
In creating your memory palace – you’ll want to make sure you're visualizing your
route or memory journey in an orderly way around your chosen space.
This means that you will be placing objects and identifying locations that move in one
direction (clockwise or anti-clockwise) around any room or space.
The direction that you decide to walk in as you move through your memory journey should
be the same direction within each room, or mental palace.
Step two - identify different locations in your route that you will use as memory ‘pegs’.
The more information you need to remember, the more locations you will need to identify
as part of your memory journey. Different locations may be your bedside table,
a lamp, desk, a specific book… These locations are also known as ‘memory
pegs’, which are objects or specific landmarks you will use to ‘hook’ the information
you want to remember onto. In the previous example, we used the doormat
as our memory peg to place the apples on. Be observant about the locations you plan
to use, and make sure each location is distinct in order to make it easier for you to differentiate
information along your path. Step three – place information in each location,
or on each ‘memory peg’. Once you are familiar with your route and
each location, you’re ready to place information on each memory peg!
Place a manageable amount of information in one place, and ensure that information is
placed in the correct order along your chosen route – If that applies to the information
you want to remember. For example, you may not need to remember
your grocery list in order from top to bottom, although this would probably make it easier
for you to recall in an orderly way! Practice walking through your mental palace
often, visualizing each location and memory peg in detail.
Mentally visualizing your memory palace often will help you solidify this information and
improve your ability to recall. Remember, be as creative and as detail-orientated
as possible when visualizing different locations and objects!
Sound easy enough? Implementing this incredible technique will
not only boost your memory, but it will also support other mechanisms of cognitive function
and improve your ability to integrate information in general.
The method of Loci has been well researched as a successful tool in retaining information,
and it’s been shown to help students retain new concepts and develop new skills.
One study assessed two groups of students in their ability to retain information.
One group attended a lecture followed by self-directed learning, while the other attended the same
lecture followed by integrating the method of loci technique.
In comparison to the self-directed learning group, the group who interactively incorporated
the method of loci technique after their lecture… ...showed significantly improved performance
in their ability to retain information for their assessments.
With many other studies supporting these findings, this ancient, brain-boosting technique is
one to try out! We hope you’ve learned something new today,
and that this video has encouraged new ways of thinking to boost your memory power.
Now, we’d like to know… What tools do you use to support your memory and cognitive
function? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t
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