MNEMONIC TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE MEMORY

Mnemonic Techniques To Improve Memory



Mnemonic Techniques To Improve Memory

Introduction

Memory refers to the processes that are used to acquire, store, retain and later retrieve information. There are three major processes involved in memory: encoding, storage and retrieval. the capacity for storing and retrieving information. In order to form new memories, information must be changed into a usable form, which occurs through the process known as encoding. Once information has been successfully encoded, it must be stored in memory for later use. (Mattioli 2007)

Processes Involved In Memory

This paper contains many of the memory techniques used by stage memory performers. With enough practice and effort, you may be able to have a memory as good. Even if you do not have the time needed to develop this quality of memory, many of the techniques here are useful in everyday life.The tools in this section help you to improve your memory. They help you both to remember facts accurately and to remember the structure of information. The tools are split into two sections. Firstly you'll learn the memory techniques themselves. Secondly we'll look at how you can use them in practice to remember peoples names, languages, exam information, and so on. (Squire 2008:1)As with other mind tools, the more practice you give yourself with these techniques, the more effectively you will use them. (Russell 2005)

Much of this stored memory lies outside of our awareness most of the time, except when we actually need to use it.The retrieval process allows us to bring stored memories into conscious awareness. Three processes are involved in memory: encoding, storage and retrieval. These 3 processes help to determine whether you remember or forget something.

ENCODING

Encoding is processing information into memory. We automatically encode some types of information without being aware of it. For example, most people probably can recall where they ate lunch yesterday, even though they didn't try to remember this information.

Some types of information become encoded only if people pay attention to it. Students probably won't remember everything in their textbooks unless they pay close attention to what they're reading. There are several different ways of encoding verbal information: (Baddeley 2000)Structural encoding focuses on what words look like. For instance, one can remember whether the words are long or short, uppercase or lowercase, or handwritten or typed. Phonemic encoding focuses on how words sound. Semantic encoding focuses on the meaning of words. Semantic encoding requires a deeper level of processing than structural or phonemic encoding and usually results in better memory. For example, the word "rambutan" may not mean anything to you - but if you put a meaning to it (a tropical fruit which means "hair" in Indonesian, similar to its physical qualities), you will probably remember it better.

STORAGE

After information enters the brain, it has to be stored or maintained. To describe the process of storage, many psychologists use the three-stage model proposed by Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffrin. According to this model, information is stored sequentially in three memory systems: sensory ...