Additionally, proper use of the memory palace helps you chunk information, meaning dividing a large set of information into smaller bits that are each individually easier to memorize. For example, if you were to choose your school’s courtyard as the exclusive area for memorizing the forms of nephrotic syndrome, then you can choose spatial areas within or closely related to this to further organize subtopics, like other renal pathologies. The memory palace technique has a few distinct advantages, namely that it facilitates organization and sequencing. I relied on this primarily to encode bits of information that weren’t sticking via flashcards and didn’t always fit well with mnemonics, such as the constellation of adverse effects from a medication. I don’t use it for everything I come across, and I recommend you also use it sparingly. This is the most advanced memory tool and I save it for pieces of information that are not sticking by traditional means. While this is a useful technique, it’s not some magical mystical secret that will instantly earn you perfect grades. It’s a great technique, and I used it extensively as a medical student, but this technique is abused by self-help gurus who like to show off by memorizing a list of names or random objects. We’ll use multiple loci, or locations, to help us string together important bits of information. “Loci” is simply the plural form of “locus”, and it references the technique in using spatial memory to quickly and efficiently recall information. Let’s start with everyone’s favorite, the memory palace, also known as method of loci. Therefore, it’s important to understand their relative strengths and weaknesses, and know when to use each one, based on the information you’re trying to memorize and the reason that you’re struggling with it. Not all memory techniques are created equal. For example, I used mnemonics or memory palaces to memorize particularly challenging anatomy concepts, but now I no longer need to, as I simply know the anatomy. The images may fade with time, as you no longer practice them, but the underlying information that you need to know will remain. The goal in using these techniques is to get to the point where you no longer need them. None of these techniques are fully generalizable to all learning scenarios, and practicing a deliberate strategy with when and how you use each one will serve you well. We want to strike that optimal balance of understanding and intuition with memory techniques. Most information, however, will require an intentional strategy and technique to accelerate memorization. As often as possible, you should try to understand why things occur in a certain way, as this will reduce the need for special memory techniques. Some information makes intuitive sense, and because it’s easy to understand, your probability of remembering it is quite high. When you’re learning information in college or in medical school, there’s a lot to go through. I’ll show you what actually works, and more importantly, when and how to use each memorization technique depending on the content that you’re studying. The truth is, these memory hacks don’t actually work, otherwise they wouldn’t be hacks, and they’d just be the norm – everyone would be using them. If you’ve been anywhere near a computer screen recently, you’ve likely seen the ads to “supercharge your brain” using these 5 simple memory tricks. Premed & Medical Student Annual Scholarship.
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