So, I’m studying for a highly competitive entrance exam to get into medical school here in Brazil. Since it’s this kind of exam, it covers a wide range of subjects at a relatively high level of depth for the target audience. Because of that, I have a huge amount of information to memorize.
I’m a beginner when it comes to the memory palace technique, so I don’t use any specific method to convert words into symbols—I rely purely on my imagination. The problem is that I struggle a lot with placing and contextualizing the images within my memory palaces, as it takes a long time and requires a lot of cognitive effort.
Does anyone have any ideas for a memorization system that allows for near-verbatim memorization but is a bit faster than relying purely on imagination?
It’s not that the system is slow, it’s that you’re not trained. The brain needs time to improve because you’re using neural networks that don’t work together. When you start, the brain has to make the connections, which is why it’s good to practice for 20 minutes and then rest for 10 when you begin. This allows the brain to adapt. It’s the same with studying. If you feel exhausted or stressed, you won’t function well. Research suggests that a relaxed state improves memory, so being relaxed is key.
When you start, you use techniques together, such as chains, loci, stories, emotions, and senses (touch, sight, etc.). Your brain will adjust to all of this, so practice will be your best ally, allowing you to retain more and better information.
Another thing: if your imagination exhausts you, it’s because you’re using it too much and not resting. As mentioned, the brain needs to adapt, and then it doesn’t get tired (unless you’re stressed). Generating mnemonic or symbolic images is very intuitive.
Memorizing verbatim is a difficult task without practice. Those of us who memorize verbatim use one symbol per sentence; others prefer to use keywords, usually three to six per paragraph.
Yes, practice, practice, practice.
If you’re new to something you’re going to be bad and slow at it, before you become good.
But also it’s worthwhile to try to find out what part exactly of the process is slow for you (encoding, decoding, placements, deciding mnemonics to use, mnemonics ambiguous during decoding, choice of mnemonics during encoding, organisation of the memory palaces, organisation of the information even before encoding, etc.) If you find out what the problems are FOR YOU, you may be able to adapt your system a little.
In short, reflecting on your own practice/thinking is essential. This also takes time - and practice
Have a look at Alex Mullen’s site. This page is specific to studying medicine. He’s a medical doctor and former memory champion. You might find it useful.
Cool stuff, I am going to use memory techniques for studying.
Link is easier and than palace, do I need to use palace at all? Or I can just use page numbers as pegs (PAO) using a particular room to represent the subject without much focus on distinct loci in it.
Oh no, they waste too much time!!! I am going to be studying “normally”.
Studying normally is not working, ( can’t remember or focus as much as I want to), have to find something better.
Oh, I can write and draw associations and representative images in a notebook, this is faster and has less mental strain, maybe I will only use full visualization for pure facts.
Even better, I can draw and write in the textbook itself, from experience, this helps because instead of remembering text, I will think about what I wrote/drew in the book but maybe don’t overdo it( I think this was actually the best idea, I still do this now; underlining, drawing silly pictures, writing associations and witty comments, it’s also helpful when initially going through the material before the main encoding and also for quick review flipping through the material).
Writing and drawing is not enough (increased my memory of the material but not for as long as I wanted, though looking back, this may have been due to not reviewing often enough). I have to go back to the palace technique.
So here I am after doing all that, trust me the period was quite…(I don’t know the best description) and this did not just take place in a few hours or days so I ended up wasting time I should have spent improving the palace technique.
My advice: If palace works well for you and speed is the only problem, I will think it best to train it and not waste time searching for other techniques, you can, of course, I did. But remember that even if you do find a super technique, remember that you’re going to spend time learning it for it to become efficient enough.
( I think this was actually the best idea, I still do this now; underlining, drawing silly pictures, writing associations and witty comments
, it’s also helpful when initially going through the material before the main encoding and also for quick review flipping through the material).
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