Every person periodically faces the need to learn material of varying content and volume. This comes easily to some, but the vast majority of people face difficulties, not knowing how to quickly memorize a given amount of text.
The functioning of the human brain is still not 100% understood; we only know that we use a small part of the brain’s abilities. Psychological processes occurring in the human mind are amenable to daily training. Memory and other mechanisms of consciousness can be developed to unprecedented heights. A strong memory will allow you to achieve success in any area of human life; it will be needed in everyday life, study, and will easily increase your intellectual abilities.
To learn text, artistic or scientific content, you will need constant memory training with exercises specially designed for this. Human memory is divided into visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory and tactile. It represents the ability to remember and store any amount of information.
Each type of memory develops differently in people. Some people find it easier to remember a text by saying it out loud, while others, on the contrary, learn it better after visualizing what they read. Therefore, it is important to understand which type of memory is better developed in order to use it for memorization in the future.
Getting to the bottom of things
German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus compiled a “forgetting curve” that demonstrates how long new information can be stored in a person’s memory.
Thus, mechanical learning (or cramming) of material without delving into its meaning leads to the fact that in an hour you will remember about 60% of the new information, after 10 hours - 35%, and after 6 days from the depths of your memory you will extract no more than 20 % of material learned.
But meaningful information is stored in the so-called long-term memory, and, therefore, is remembered much longer, especially if it is repeated periodically. In addition, once you understand the essence of the material you are studying, you will remember it 9 times faster.
Remember the information we read
Some people do not have a very good memory, and always wonder how to quickly learn texts by heart. To do this, you don’t need to do anything complicated, just follow the recommendations that will help reduce your learning time significantly.
The surest way to remember something easily is through recollection. This is the name given to the memory function, which helps a person remember information learned in the past.
Reading the text again, a few hours after the first time, will strengthen it in memory.
Having understood the information presented in the work, a person can remember the entire text in a fairly short period of time. Also memorize the piece in parts, it’s easier than learning everything at once. Read thoughtfully, understand the words, understand what you are reading about. Proven fact: what you read before bed is remembered better.
Spaced Repetition
Repetition is the mother of learning. And, indeed, the more often we repeat learned material, the lower the rate of forgetting it.
The method of spaced repetition will help you remember information of any volume.
If you need to quickly learn a verse or prepare in emergency mode for an exam, use the following repetition algorithm:
- the first – 20 minutes after memorization;
- the second – after 6 – 8 hours;
- the third – in a day.
For better assimilation, it is recommended not just to reread the material, but to actively retrieve it from memory, that is, remember it by looking at the source.
If you have a large amount of information to remember that will be useful to you not only for the next day or week, follow this repetition interval:
- first - directly on the day of memorization (repeat all the material);
- the second – after 3 days (repeat only the key points that are highlighted by the author himself or you);
- third - after 6 days (repeat all the information, but try to do it in a different order).
Ideally, it is recommended to repeat the material being studied daily, but devote no more than 15 to 20 minutes to it, so as not to overload the brain.
Another tip:
Try to explain unclear or difficult-to-remember moments to someone. If there is no one willing to listen to a lecture on the theory of probability or the significance of the Renaissance in painting, simply speak out that part of the information that causes the greatest difficulty to your imaginary interlocutor. In the process of such presentation, the brain will automatically select the most simplified formulations.
The influence of perception on memory development
CONTENT:
Before you start memorizing voluminous information, you need to understand how perception works. The way memory works varies from person to person. The human brain is designed in such a way that the following types of memory are responsible for storing, reproducing and interpreting information:
- auditory;
- visual;
- taste;
- olfactory;
- tactile.
As a rule, only one type of perception has the ability to dominate. Those who have a good photographic and visual memory can learn the passage easily and quickly. There is no general strategy for remembering. To better consolidate the material in memory, read the passage several times, sketch out a thesis plan, write down key thoughts, and speak sentences out loud. For “visual learners”, literature rich in terminology is easier to digest if text data is presented in the form of a drawing, graph or figure.
Edge effect
This phenomenon, the discovery of which also belongs to G. Ebbinghaus, lies in the fact that we quickly remember and most accurately reproduce information located at the beginning and end of the text.
Don't believe me? Let's conduct a short test of attentiveness and memorization. We will voice a number of words that you need to repeat.
Ready?
Chocolate, falling leaves, train, newspaper, radio waves, bed, tower, joy, sleep, construction site, pen, chess.
Which words from the list did you remember first? Chocolate and chess?
What about the words in the middle of the list? How many of them were you able to reproduce - three, five? Well, you have something to strive for.
But how does the edge effect help you remember information? Easily!
Read the text you need to learn. Select the most difficult parts and start learning them first or last.
Of course, we cannot say that the edge effect always works 100%, but in most cases it does work.
Feynman method
Richard Feynman, a theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate, formulated a learning algorithm that allows you to study any topic faster and more deeply.
This simple method is based on explaining new and complex material in clear and simple language.
, making it easier to memorize.
The essence of the technique can be reduced to three simple points:
- We write down everything we know about the topic that needs to be learned.
- We identify “gaps” in knowledge and fill them, and new information should be written down in the simplest possible language, not containing complex terms and long sentences.
- We combine all the available information into one simple and interesting story, which must be presented on a piece of paper in such a way that an eight-year-old child can understand it. And then we retell it.
Use comparisons, visualization (accompany notes with diagrams, graphs, drawings). Remember that we perceive 90% of information through vision.
You can record your story on a voice recorder or any other gadget, which will help you identify “blank spots” during the retelling that need to be worked out again.
You may argue that this method has been used for a long time without Feynman, and you will be absolutely right. Everything new is long forgotten old. Feynman systematized, structured and expanded this simple but effective method of memorization.
Using the Feynman method, you can make an interesting and fascinating story out of the most boring and uninteresting material, which both adults and children will understand and remember.
Reading quickly improves memory
Very few people know how to quickly learn a text by heart. First of all, you need to master the technique of speed reading; this is what will help you identify the most important information from a large text or from an entire book in a short time.
Reading may be different:
- leisurely - it is classified as reading works of fiction (novels, detective stories, etc.);
- concentrated - required to study very important information;
- fast reading - with its help it is easy to highlight the main thing from a large text;
- fluent – the essence of the information is remembered without details.
Using the speed reading technique, a person can easily highlight the main information in the text and not waste his time on unnecessary water in it.
To master the technique of speed reading, it is recommended to initially read the table of contents of the book, this will help to form a general impression of it. Then read the introduction, chapters, pay attention to the highlighted information in the text, what the author emphasizes.
Train your speed of reading words per minute, each time take a new page from the book for the exercise.
Massive memorization method
This method is familiar to us from school. It is as simple, understandable and bears fruit as possible.
Take notes on the material you need to learn.
Write out your main points by hand, paraphrase them in clearer language, highlight important information with a contrasting color, use lists and numbering. This will help not only to delve into the material and remember it for a long time, but also, if necessary, to quickly refresh your memory of the main points.
But that’s not all, because we are talking about massive memorization, and, therefore, we use all the senses. Therefore, we not only rewrite and review the material, but also speak and listen to it.
Why do we forget
The elements needed to develop a good memory are also important to understanding why we forget things. The roots of poor memory usually lie in one of these reasons:
- We are unable to determine the significance of the material.
- We have not mastered the previous material.
- We fail to understand what exactly needs to be remembered.
- We have no desire to remember.
- We allow apathy and boredom to dictate how we learn.
- We must make studying a habit.
- We are disorganized and inefficient in our use of study time.
- We do not use the acquired knowledge.
Use your own words to summarize your main ideas. Use highlighting, diagrams, and idea trees to identify relationships and patterns.
We are all bombarded with information every day, bombarded with facts, concepts and opinions. We are able to absorb some of this flow simply because the media immerses us in it.
But to remember more data, we need to make a conscious effort. We must direct the same effort to the material we read.
Interference
Similar memories get mixed up - this is the essence of interference. New information, superimposed on similar old information, complicates the memorization process.
Here's a simple example:
To unlock your gadget, you have been using the same pin code (picture, graphic symbol) for years. Over time, you get pretty tired of it, and you decide to change it. At first, every time you enter a new code or graphic symbol, the memory will automatically produce the old version of the code, so you will need some effort to remember the new combination. Several days or weeks will pass, and you will automatically remember the new code, while you will gradually forget the old one.
To reduce the negative impact of interference, it is recommended to study similar information at different time intervals.
If you do not have this opportunity, break the material into blocks and organize the memorization process in such a way that the parts of the text studied one after another are as dissimilar as possible.
And one more tip:
If you need to master a large amount of information, do not just break it up into blocks, but also study it in different rooms (if you wish, you can do this on the street or in transport). Changing the environment when memorizing individual blocks will help avoid mixing information.
Palace of Memory (Palace of the Mind)
Mnemonics with such a poetic name are based on the construction of an associative series. It allows you not only to distribute information into memory cells in small portions, but also to connect them together with logical associative threads.
Let’s say right away that this is a rather difficult technique for a beginner, but having mastered it, you will be able not only to quickly memorize information, but also to use only that part of it that is needed here and now, thereby not overloading the brain.
How to create lasting associative connections between familiar information and new information:
- Select a place to “build” the castle.
At first, it is better to use your apartment as familiar information, where everything is familiar to you down to the smallest detail. Over time, when you master the technique, you can “build” real palaces in your imagination. - Attach new images to interior items
, which are commonly called “strong points.” It is important that the strong points are highlighted sequentially: clockwise or counterclockwise. This will help to build logically understandable connections and not get confused in locations. In addition, the more emotional and extraordinary the associations are, the faster they will be remembered. - We turn on our imagination and come up with a short story, taking into account strong points and associations.
Let's look at how the method works using an example.
Let’s make a shopping list that includes 10 products (let’s not be original and take the basic set):
- bagel;
- sugar;
- milk;
- bananas;
- potato;
- chicken fillet;
- eggs;
- green onions;
- cookie;
- coffee.
Let’s imagine our “memory palace”, or rather the kitchen, since we are going to the grocery store. Let us highlight the strongholds located clockwise in the following sequence:
- door;
- dinner table;
- bowl of fruit on the dining table;
- chair;
- windowsill;
- fridge;
- table top;
- bread box;
- sink for washing dishes;
- plate.
Let's start creating associative links:
- We want to open the door to enter the kitchen, but there are three bagels hanging on the doorknob (you can change the number as needed).
- We approach the dining table, which is covered with sugar.
- Milk flows from a fruit bowl.
- There is a banana peel on the chair.
- Potatoes grow on the windowsill, just like in garden beds.
- We open the refrigerator, and there a surprise awaits us in the form of a live chicken.
- We see broken eggs on the countertop.
- Green onion feathers stick out from the bread bin.
- Instead of dishes, there are kilos of cookies in the sink.
- And on the stove, despite all this chaos, a cup of aromatic black coffee is brewing.
It may seem that all this is stupid, ridiculous and requires a lot of time and effort (it’s easier to write a list of products on a piece of paper), but in fact, after a few trainings, you will be able to remember lists of 50 items. The main thing is not to change the situation in your location and the sequence of its passage.
Test the effectiveness of the technique for yourself and share your results in the comments.
Using mnemonics
In general, associative connections, which are the basis of mnemonics, are a powerful aid in memorizing information:
- Use mnemonic phrases:
from childhood, we all remember the colors of the rainbow and their location thanks to the expression “Every hunter wants to know where the pheasant sits.” - Rhyme information
that is difficult for you to remember. - Humming
it helps to master new material (remember how in childhood we learned poetry in a chant manner). Auditory associations helped many of us learn the English alphabet with the famous ABC song. And in general: if you remember information more easily by ear, just record it on a voice recorder or any other gadget. In addition, it is very convenient, because you can repeat the material anytime and anywhere – in transport or while jogging. - Visualize:
draw diagrams, diagrams, graphs, create whole pictures, even if only you understand them, not only on paper, but also in your imagination.
Fool the magic number 7±2
The famous American psychologist George Miller found that short-term human memory cannot remember and repeat more than 7 ± 2 elements. The mode of constant information overload reduces this number to 5 ± 2.
Nevertheless, there is a simple way to deceive the laws of short-term memory: using the method of stories, which involves logical linking of disparate memorization objects into one chain. You may end up with a funny, incredible and completely impossible story in real life. The main thing is that with its help you can remember more than 15 elements at a time.
According to the director's plan, in the next scene you should swim in a pool filled to the brim with semolina porridge. Yes, just imagine this madness in bright colors. Feel with your skin how the semolina sticks to your skin. How hard it is to swim in this warm liquid, although the porridge is not too thick. How the air smells of milk, butter and childhood.
