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A Great Technique for Improving Your Memory

There are many different ways in which a person can help themselves improve their memory. One of the most popular is through Mnemonic devices (the initial "M" in this word is silent). These particular devices help a person by providing them with clues in order for them to remember something. In most cases, a person will associate the information that they are trying to remember with either a visual image, a sentence or with a particular word.

The most common types of mnemonic devices are as follows:

1.  Visual Images

It is important that a person uses positive and pleasant images, as the brain will often block out those which they find to be unpleasant. Also, make them as vivid, colorful as well as three dimensional, as this makes it all the easier for you to remember them.

2.  Words

Also, when using sentences, then make sure that the first letter of each word in it represents the initial of what it is you are trying to remember. There are millions of musicians around the world who used the sentence "Every good boy does fine" in order that they could memorize the lines of the treble staff. The first letters of each word in the above sentence represent the notes E, G, B, D and F. Also you will find that medical students, in order to learn the groups of nerves, bones and other features of the human body, will use nonsense sentences in order that they retain the information much more easily, as well as being able to recall it when required.

3.  Acronyms

This is where a person will use initials when then creating a pronounceable word. For example musicians will remember the spaces between the lines on the treble staff by saying the word "face" which stands for the other notes F, A, C and E.

4.  Rhymes and Alliteration

When I was younger, we learned the rhyme "30 days hath September, April, June and November. But all the rest hath 31 except for February alone." So why not use this in the same way for other things, such as if you are trying to recall a co-workers name? By providing symbolization to them, you should be able to recall their name without any problems. For example, suppose you work with a guy called Mike, who happens to be a little funny, you can try remembering him as "Mad Mike".

5. Jokes

Use these to remember facts, figures and names. Often, people find it easier to remember things which are either funny or weird, rather than something which is a little more ordinary.

6.  Chunking Information

With this mnemonic device you will arrange a long list of information into smaller groups or sections, making them much easier to remember. Often people find that it is much easier to remember their Social Security number once they have arranged it into much smaller groups of digits, say 3 or 4 in each group, rather than trying to remember the whole 9 digits together.

7.  Loci Method

This is both a very ancient and effective way for a person to remember a lot of information, say for example, a speech that they will be giving. What you need to do with this method is associate each part of what it is you have to remember with a particular landmark or spot on a route that you know very well, for example, the route you use each day to get to work.

8.  Exercise your Brain

This is probably one of the best ways of improving your memory. Unfortunately, the less you use your brain, then the more chances you will have of being unable to retain information. So if you can, exercise it as much as possible and you will soon find that you are not only able to process information better, but also find it much easier to remember the information as well.

There are now computer games available both for your PC and many of the handheld computers, such as Game Boy and PSP, which are specifically designed to help exercise the brain. One of the most common of these that is regularly advertised both on TV, in magazines and online is the "Dr Brain Game".