Mnemonics

Memory is an amazing thing, allowing us to remember and recall events and information from previous dates. Often in our daily lives we have things that we need to remember. For example phone numbers, errands to run, people to see, places to be, things for work, etc. And although our brains are certainly capable of remembering all of the information we want, getting it to a state where it can be easily called-upon can be difficult.

This is where mnemonics come in. As researchers and scientists recognise that our brains are able to memorise and recall things with much more ease if the information is associated to something. Preferably to something that stands out. A memory technique that puts this to use is the 'memory palace'.

Mnemonics is a memory technique that converts information into pictures, sounds, smells, abbreviations, acronyms, initials, poems, or anything else to make the information easier for the mind to recall upon.

The ancient Greeks and Romans knew about mnemonic techniques, and realised that memory retention would be vastly improved with the application of these techniques. They would define this as the artificial memory. Artificial because it needs to be trained and developed using a range of techniques over time.

For example: To remember the colours of the rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet), a very simple mnemonic phrase 'Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain' would represent the colours of the rainbow. The first letter of each word representing a successive colour.

Mnemonics are used by millions of people around the globe to help them memorise and recall information. College tutors, scientists, taxi drivers, all-sorts,  people like you and I.

An example of an extremely simple mnemonic use I use, is to help me spell the word information. I know this sounds silly, but when I was younger I could never ever remember if you spelt information as information, with a 'n' at the start, or as imformation with a 'm' at the start. I don't know why but that spelling uncertainty never allowed me to remember how to correctly spell the word. The strange thing is however, I know if I was to write information as shorthand, I would spell it as info. So knowing I could do this, I write info before proceeding to write the rest of the word 'rmation' to make information. Just one of many examples that I have used mnemonics for. Mnemonics are useful for remembering people's names if you're a person who has trouble with names. 

Have a go and try and invent your own mnemonics, you may be surprised how well they work.