Was 2016 as amazing for you as it was for me?

If you did anything to experience memory improvement, I’ll bet it was great.

Maybe even … Magnetic.

My top highlight?

Getting interviewed on my own show by none other than SuperLearner Jonathan Levi.

So even there though’s a lot of groovy things to read on this page and year end links to explore …

Scroll up and hit that play button. Jonathan helps me dig deep into the Mind of a Memorizer.

And it’s all kind of fascinating, because when you think about it …

 

Who Knew You Could Still Improve
The Ancient Art Of Memory Improvement?

 

Hard to believe, but totally true.

And you can do it even if you were a “delinquent youth,” which is just one of the topics we touch upon in the interview.

We also talk about dealing with Manic Depression without medication …

The nature of truth and memory …

And my top book and movie recommendations, including:

Books

The Republic

The Nichomachean Ethics

Better Never To Have Been: The Harm Of Coming Into Existence

Movies

Lost Highway (best memory quote in cinema history)

eXistenZ

The Matrix

And while you’re jamming your way through those great movies, I have to say that my all time favorite video course from 2016 has been SuperLearner 2.0:

 

Thanks to my friendship with Jonathan, you can now take a free trial of the SuperLearner Academy. Thanks for that, Jonathan!

Speaking of friendship …

 

The Magnetic Memory Method
2017 Predictions For Your Memory

 

A lot of people are making 2017 predictions about a lot of things.

As far as I know, none of them involve the state of memory improvement.

Here are my top predictions for how things will go with some tips about how to make memory improvement part of your 2017 adventure.

 

Why Friendships Improve Your Memory

 

Friendship and memory, you ask?

You bet. And as more and more social groups form online, the more “real life” friendships will matter.

For example, a recent memory improvement book demonstrates that we just don’t remember a lot of what we experience online all that well.

Of course, you can develop techniques that help (check out Jonathan’s course!), but my bigger concern is that you get the memory benefits of spending time with real people.

In the world.

Some ways to make sure you get your memory-friendly time with people in the world include:

• Daily walks with a friend
• Weekly lunches or dinners
• Meeting to memorize cards together
• Shared language learning challenges
• Just getting together to shoot the breeze

I know you heard me talk a lot about him in 2016, and that’s because the favorite new friend I made in 2016 is Tony Buzan.

I have a prediction that there will be even more amazing stuff coming out from him in 2016, and I’m going to suggest to him a quarterly feature on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast called Buzan².

He reads so fast … I wouldn’t be surprised if he already knows about it before I’ve had a chance to ask him.

For now, my favorite pic of the year:

 

Why The Pen Will Remain
Mightier Than The Sword in 2017

 

Penmanship used to be a preoccupation of mine. I predict I’ll be returning to it in 2017.

Maybe I’m old school. Or maybe I just like Da Vinci.

Either way, there’s no arguing that there’s a thing called penmanship and developing it is good for your brain.

It’s tempting to say to hell with it. People type, tap and swipe now.

But in watching April wrangle pinyin and hanzi out of my iPad on the same day I watched some of the beautiful Chinese calligraphy in Devils on the Doorstep:

As I study Chinese calligraphy a bit myself, it seems clear to me that it’s not just the multiple intelligences and muscular activity we’re losing.

It’s a kind of art.

And I predict that individuals and nations that hang onto it will outpace those who do not.

 

Journaling Will Improve Your Memory
Even Better Than In The Victorian Era

 

John Lee Dumas is an entrepreneur on fire.

And The Freedom Journal is just one aspect of his genius.

I’m not ready to share yet how it helped me on a massive project in 2016, but I can tell you that the The Freedom Journal has streamlined my daily journaling down to the essentials.

Even better:

The Freedom Journal has given me the means of tying those essentials to making huge strides toward an ambitious goal I had left dangling.

Here I am using The Freedom Journal in Zürich. I carried it with me all around Europe while working on a project I predict I will tell you about in 2017.

My favorite part is that The Freedom Journal is also a memory tool. So I also predict that in 2017 you’ll hear me sharing more about this exciting tool in relation to memory techniques.

Oh, okay, one more prediction about this:

I predict that if you join me in being a Freedom Journal user, you’ll massively upgrade your life while contributing to a great cause.

 

Language Learning Will Increase In Importance

 

It doesn’t require any psychic powers to predict that knowing more than one language will be even more important in 2017 than it was in 2016.

The question is …

Will it be any easier in 2017?

The answer is easy, but …

The ease of that answer depends.

It depends on the decisions you make and the tools you use.

My 2016 recommendations won’t change:

1. Know and use The Big Five of Language Learning

• Use your memory
• Read
• Write
• Speak
• Listen

Every day.

2. If you’re going to use apps, use them intelligently.

Olly Richards is definitely your man for figuring out how to do that. Make Words Stick gives you some cool insights and I predict there will be many more interesting language learning and memory insights coming from Olly in 2017.

 

 

3. Speak with native speakers.

My biggest recommendations for finding great speaking partners boil down to italki and Skill Silo. I’m expecting great things from both, but liked Skill Silo the best in 2016 thanks to a streamlined process that puts only one core language learning text on the screen with your teacher.

But you still need to teach your teacher. Olly again has lots of ideas to help you get the most from that.

 

N=1 Experiments And Competition

 

Alex Mullen continues proving that human memory moves at least as fast as the human hand and eye.

I’ve spoken with him and his results clearly come from the same processes all memory athletes and experts use.

The real difference is in how you apply the techniques to your memory improvement goals.

It could be winning the World Memory Championships.

Or it could be learning a massive topic related to science, computing, philosophy or some interesting combination you make in a course of study of your own.

 

How To Design A Learning Project That Works In 2017

 

To get the most out of any learning project, four elements will be key:

1. Use Magnetic Memory Method Memory Palaces.

This is kind of a no-brainer, but if your Memory Palace strategy isn’t bulletproof, you risk wasting time and energy.

2. Dive in and go all the way.

The map is never the territory, so action is key. (Note: Getting yourself into the picture can and most likely will involve making changes to the map as you go along.)

3. Track your results.

Stay tuned for some more information about tracking your results in 2017, particularly in combination with The Freedom Journal.

4. Refine Your Approach

Once you have data on what’s working and what isn’t, I predict that all people serious about using memory techniques will be capable of learning faster, remembering more and having an amazing 2017.

 

2017 Will Be The Year Of
Memory And Sleep Research

 

My biggest memory improvement surprises in 2016 came from experiencing great memory wins despite way too much sleep deprivation.

As the author of The Ultimate Sleep Remedy, I still stand behind everything I taught in that book.

However, I also wrote the book during a period of time when I took lamictal every day. I had also done a huge course of research in sleeping 12 hour days and dream recall.

But since becoming an entrepreneur and giving up the pretty pink pills as part of “Project Wolverine” …

Things Have Been Different!

 

I don’t think the pretty pink pill ever helped me sleep any better. But I think it did give my like a machinic quality.

And that consistency has been replaced with something more akin to the classic and cliche Bipolar Rollercoaster described in psychology textbooks.

To combat the suffering that comes from Manic Depression, I’ve been experimenting with raw cacao and coffee, sometimes Bulletproof Coffee. There is no doubt in my mind that the swapping of these substances in for lamictal has changed the nature of my sleep.

But overall, despite tons of exhaustion, my mnemonic memory has never been better. I find this amazing, especially since recent research has shown that the older you get, the less likely you are to get memory consolidation during sleep.

 

My Mnemonic Calendar Will Come Back Into Use

 

That said, the tasks to which I direct my mnemonic memory need refinement. I have a mnemonic calendar, for example, but need to use it more often so that I don’t forget appointments.

Or even better, remember when appointments have been cancelled. Sometimes the ghost impression of an appointment made can override the attempt to remember that it has been canceled. This is The Ugly Sister Effect in full force as too much competes for your attention.

There is also the pressure of absentmindedness on memory. For this reason, it is important to place as many things on autopilot as possible so that remembering is unnecessary.

Funny, right?

But it’s important to note that a great way to improve your memory is to remove things from it that stress it out.

 

HumanCharger Light Therapy And Memory?

 

Light is an increasingly important topic to me.

In fact, light exposure has become a way of life. Since February of 2016, I’ve been using a unique light-therapy device to explore the topic.

The benefits of using the HumanCharger have been clear, measurable and amazing.

Basically, the device addresses a simple reality:

The human brain is sensitive and receptive to light.

There’s a lot to that statement. Especially if you can find a way to let light reach more of your brain.

Of course, your eyes have a means of doing that.

But what if your ears were a pathway light could use to reach your brain too.

I predict that I’ll be part of spreading the good news about exactly how you can use the HumanCharger to bring light to your brain.

I’m also excited to explore the relationship between memory and light as well. My initial n=1 conclusions are that feeling more alert and in a brighter mood definitely adds to the arsenal when you’re living the art of memory improvement.

 

The Magnetic Memory Method
Will Be Enshrined As The Martial Art
Of Memory Improvement

 

I predict that I will continue extending my feeling that mnemonics are a kind of Martial Art.

I’ve long felt that my background with Systema has helped my memory. Apart from meditation techniques derived from Alan Watts and Eckart Tolle, Systema continues to provide the basis for how I connect relaxation to memory.

Ego-depletion will also remain important.

Yet, ego is so crucial to memory techniques because you draw on what you know based on what you know about yourself. You tap into what you like, what makes you emotional, sometimes even what makes you mad.

Case in point:

I was filming myself learning some Chinese in a bank when I got some attitude from a guy. He basically told me I shouldn’t get him on camera (a camera that was in no way pointing at him). But he did it so indirectly that I wasn’t sure if he worked for the bank, was representing the bank’s interest or … trying to audition for my YouTube channel …

Anyhow, I was trying to remember how to say, “I am lost” using memory techniques in real time.

But in the moment of conflict, I not only had to maintain calm to avoid getting into a fistfight. I needed calm to make sure I could create Magnetic Imagery to attach to the Magnetic Station I’d created on the fly in the impromptu Memory Palace.

My images were Mini-me from Austin Powers and Jennifer Lopez.

No, the phrase isn’t epic in length. No is it particularly difficult.

But neither is it extraordinary. And in a field of Chinese words and phrases, I needed to make it stand out. So while I’m managing my ego in the face of a potential attacker, running the camera and thinking about how I’ll edit it, AND memorizing this useful Chinese phrase so I can get it into long term memory …

It really does require Martial Arts-level memory to manage all of these elements and not forget the core information.

 

Physical Fitness And Memory Will
Remain Mutually Supportive

 

In 2016, I dropped a lot of weight and built a lot of muscle. My trainer, Lars at Ignite.Fit, taught me a lot about my body, discipline and the nature of life. We also became friends and talked a lot about education, technology, business and how all three intersect.

As I worked to heal my body in the gym, I started drafting “Project Wolverine.” I can’t say much about it now, but I predict that memory and physical fitness will remain important to me and all who care about the quality of their memory.

Brad Zupp agrees on the connection between health and memory in this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast. I can’t wait to speak with him again on the matter and predict that I will.

 

My Year Two Of Chinese Prediction

 

It’s one year since I started learning Chinese.

Fluent?

Hardly.

And I know for a fact that I’ve got a long way to go.

But it raises the question of how exactly I define fluency.

Context decides.

When I asked my father-in-law permission to marry his daughter, he understood my request. I was fluent.

When I sang her a Chinese love song I’d memorized on our wedding day, I was fluent.

When I got an email from one of her friends expressing his amazement with my Chinese and memory techniques, I was fluent.

But …

… When I went to make dumplings during the 冬至 Dongzhi Festival …

I was in the limbo every language learner knows so well.

It feels like you must have been studying all the wrong things. Although you recognize dozens of words … It’s still hard to penetrate even 10% of what’s going on around you.

But I am fluent in memory. I zone in on what I do recognize. I isolate what I want to memorize. Then, provided I follow the MMM to the letter …

I’m on the road to fluency, which is the present moment, the only place anything is to be found.

 

The Toughest 2017 Prediction To Uphold … 

 

Tough, but I still predict that I will maintain my love affair with German. It’s actually kind of easy.

All it will take is dedication to The Big Five of language learning to maintain my current level.

Yes, even as an upper-level student of German, maximum attention must be paid to reading, writing, speaking, hearing and continuing to memorize German.

I know, because I remember just how quickly it faded the last time I left Germany. I don’t want to feel the fade of disuse ever again.

 

What Are Your Predictions For Your
2017 State Of Memory Address?

 

So that’s my 2016 in a nutshell.

I’m grateful to everyone who contributed comments here, left reviews on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast or joined the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass. It’s been an honor and delight to improve the ability of people around the world to learn, remember and recall anything with greater ease, fun, passion and high levels of accuracy in their recall.

Like how about this amazing win from a Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass member:

Or this wonderful lesson from an action-taker with the Magnetic Memory Method:

And then there’s this short note from a great MMM Masterclasser:

 

I received hundreds of emails and messages just like these in 2016.

So when it comes to 2017 predictions and the state of your memory, tell me …

Are you in?

Have a great New Year and talk soon!

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

P.S. If you think you don’t have time for memory improvement in 2017, here’s how to memorize things fast from my friend Tor.

Have fun!

The post The 2016 MMM State Of Your Memory Address appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Except for the threats, the sirens and the guys with guns … last night was amazing for my memory.

First, April got invited to make dumplings to celebrate the last day of Autumn and the first day of Winter on the Chinese calendar.

I love the Magnetic Memory Method because I was able to remember those words in Chinese …

秋天 qiūtiān (Autumn)

冬天 dōngtiān (Winter)

Crazy thing is … I’d only heard them once in my life and used an impromptu Memory Palace to memorize them.

Months later …

 

They Were All Still Intact!

 

As was this song that took really just a few minutes to memorize:

Sure, I had a bit of a pronunciation problem here and there, but that’s easily solved by developing muscle memory. It’s understandable that words you don’t use for months that you only heard once don’t exactly snap into place.

But what a GREAT feeling to be able to remember them! And all by doing something I really love:

Using my memory.

After that, we were shooting video and getting into more of the particulars about how all this works.

 

We Got Lost!

 

We wound up getting a bit lost and keeping warm inside the bank machine area of a building.

And that’s when the threats and guns appeared.

Turns out, that a guy didn’t like me having the camera on while April was teaching me how to say, “I’m lost” in Chinese.

Good thing the Magnetic Memory Method teaches relaxation as part of the memory technique …

You certainly need to be calm when a stranger starts telling you what you can and cannot do.

It’s hard managing your defensive instincts and memory at the same time.

(You’ll laugh when you see my reaction in the video and the guns that were there to keep us safe all along).

So yes, April and I survived.

 

Perfect Recall … Even Under Duress

 

And the coolest thing is that I was still able to memorize “I am lost” in Chinese.

I can still remember exactly how to say it this morning.

Not to mention a couple of other words and phrases.

Like, “Smells good!”

And “garbage can.”

 

Instantly Memorized!

 

No sweat.

No tears.

No index cards.

No software.

But as I was editing the video this morning … it occurred to me that not everyone learning Chinese has access to native speakers.

And in the video I was talking about some solutions. They’re all part of The Big Five of Language Learning.

But then I remembered something really special I’ve been following for awhile.

It’s a website called MandarinHQ.

And when they released a course on real spoken Chinese, I jumped at the chance yesterday to grab access to it.

It’s called The Real Spoken Chinese Vault.

Yes, I laid down some cash even though I have a Chinese native speaker in my family.

 

Why?

 

Partly because I like to support awesome people out on the Internet who do good work.

But also because I do memory research.

Lots of it.

And I also want to support  because what I’m about to tell you helps solve a huge problem for people learning Chinese.

It’s the “Can you please repeat that?” problem.

 

Chinese Native Speakers On Demand

 

Imagine having a video course where you get access to vocabulary and short phrases that lets you …

Instantly click a button …

… and then instantly hear that phrase again.

That would be cool, wouldn’t it?

Well, The Real Spoken Chinese Vault isn’t just about audio.

 

You Can Hear Them And See Them

 

The Real Spoken Chinese Vault also has video.

And you get strategically placed buttons so that you can see and hear 4-5 different native speakers repeat key phrases you’ll need to learn.

It’s the kind of button I wish I had in real life when learning a language.

 

For When You Can’t Put Life On Pause

 

Because, yes, I can memorize information in real time.

But sometimes it’s nice to be able to slow the world down and repeat things so I’m sure I’ve heard it right.

In fact, most of my memorization errors from real-time memory work come from now having heard it right.

What you’re about to learn about solves that problem.

Again, you get to SEE and HEAR native Chinese speakers.

 

A Lot In The Form Of Important
Questions And Answers

 

Just like you’ll need to know in every day speech.

But there’s more.

Not much more, but just enough more to make this powerful package a no-brainer:

Because the program really wants to help you learn Chinese without overwhelming you …

Imagine a progression of exposure to the language in each lesson.

You start with seeing and hearing the speaker.

 

Progressive Exposure
Reduces Cognitive Overwhelm

 

You can repeat each one delivering the phrase as many times as you like.

Then, when you’re ready, you can see the pinyin.

Same principle applies.

Click that magic repeat button all that you like as you watch and listen.

And then move on to the next stage.

 

When You’re Ready …

 

Then, and only then will you see the Chinese characters on the screen.

Your magic repeat button is right there, ready for use.

This program truly is one of the only times I will support hard-repetition. It’s very smartly done.

It’s not boring.

It’s not painful.

And you learn in a way that doesn’t waste your language learning time.

I also like that each module ends in a quiz.

 

You Get To Test Yourself

 

So far, I’ve done really well and LOVE this program.

Here are some Basic Chinese examples with my own tailor-made (and Magnetic) Mandarin Mnemonics:

And you can get lifetime access now at a HUGE discount (time is running out, though!)

 

(Note: The following offer expired at 11:59 p.m., December 26th, 2016. To let me know that you’re interested in studying Chinese using memory techniques, please get in contact.)

 

Let me introduce you to my friend Angel to explain her “listening framework” in detail.

If you want to join me in the course, before the deadline …

I’m going to do you even one better:

I’m going to make you a short video course of what I’m doing to memorize the material I need from the course using the Magnetic Memory Method.

But here’s the thing:

This bonus is only for people who take Angel’s course and keep it.

She’s being VERY generous with this discount for early adopters on LIFETIME ACCESS.

And I only want to reward people who take it for 30-days along with me.

So that means I’ll be sending you your access to the MMM Chinese Vault Supplemental 30-days after you grab The Real Spoken Chinese Vault before the deadline.

Can’t wait to share more of my Chinese memory journey with you soon!

Sincerely,

Anthony

P.S. Remember: This amazing opportunity for LIFETIME access to Angel’s The Real Chinese Vault with its unique listening and viewing framework closes soon. You should at least look it over.

P.P.S. You’re right. One bonus from me isn’t enough.

I’m also going to throw in a video I’ve already made about how that I quickly memorize Chinese poetry.

The poems are usually only 4 lines long, but I only need to hear them once. Recall is so strong that I am delighted by the response of native Chinese speakers.

Just check out this email I received after dinner the other night:

“Dear Anthony,

It was definitely happy time having dinner with you.

Especially, I checked out your website, that’s amazing. Those techniques, please forgive me that I call them techniques, help people memorize things. Actually, I was shocked that day, with your Mandarin.

As you know, not even all of real Chinese people speak 100% correct mandarin. And the way you were trying to memorize the few Chinese poems is cool. When I was trying to memorize the same poem at very young age, I don’t know what those words/characters mean. I just repeat it again and again. Those are ancient/classical Chinese words and very different from nowadays.”

​If you’d like to get emails like that yourself from native Chinese speakers, don’t miss out on my bonus. Scroll and click that link for The Real Chinese Vault now.

P.P.P.S. Oh, okay, yes after 30-days in The Real Chinese Vault, you can also get access to my Secret Chinese Vocabulary Facebook Group.

Unlike some of the other FB groups I run, this one isn’t free and the fun for language learners who use memory techniques is only getting started …​​​​

Scroll up, click the link and check out The Real Spoken Chinese Vault now.

Bonus Update For Action-Takers:
How To Use The Real Spoken Chinese Vault With The Magnetic Memory Method

 

If you joined us for the Chinese Vault special offer, here is your first bonus video:

Your password will have been delivered to you via email, so please be sure to check your spam and/or promotion folder if you haven’t received it.

 

Tone Control

 

The Ultimate Language Learning Secret

 

Also, be sure to have requested access to the Secret Facebook group for access to the 30-day Chinese Vault MMM Challenge. Can’t wait to share my mnemonic images with you!

The post An Easy Way To Learn Chinese That Works For People Bored By Mindless Repetition appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

In the modern world of omnipresent information access, memorization is almost a thing of the past.

And this shift has occurred very quickly. Little more than a decade ago, it wasn’t uncommon that a person had to memorize a sizable list of phone numbers belonging to partners, siblings, parents and close friends.

Now Many Of Us Forget Our Own Cell Phone Numbers!

 

Despite this, there are situations in the modern day that still require memorization. Perhaps phone numbers and historical facts are better left to Google, but not everything can and should be searched via a computer.

A notable example which is becoming conversant is “language” – which requires that you memorize a huge amount of vocabulary and grammar.  Until now, there isn’t a technology effective enough to replace human ability to learn and master a language.

In the past, having to memorize information was not optional because information wasn’t easily accessible. Up until the 19th century, paper was expensive, especially for quantities required to make a book.  To add to it was that not many people could read and write so the ability and need to memorize and recall information was critical.

 

Why The Greeks Adored Memory Palace Science

 

That’s why a powerful memorization method was adored by the ancient Greeks. This technique is used even as at today by memory experts to commit huge amounts of information to mind. And thanks to have an abundance of Ancient Greek facts that have been handed down, anyone can learn to use a Memory Palace at any time.

One such memory expert, used it to memorize Pi to over 100,000 digits. This memorization technique is called the Method of Loci, or more commonly the “Memory Palace”. It is a memorization method that not only has held the test of time, but has been shown to be effective through modern-day studies.

You may even have heard of the Memory Palace technique without realizing it because it has been featured in multiple books and media.

 

The Silence Of The Memory Palace
In Fiction And Movies

 

For example, the technique was employed by the fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter in the novel series “Hannibal” written by an American author Thomas Harris. In several passages of the novel, Lecter was described as mentally walking through an elaborate Memory Palace to remember facts. That’s the basics of the Memory Palace technique.

Although relatively unknown, this method can be a game-changing technique for people who want to improve their ability to retain large amounts of information. You might be a student trying to master information for an exam, or an aspiring polyglot trying to learn Italian. You might be aging and finding it more difficult to recall routine information.

Whatever memorization challenge you face, the Memory Palace technique is a proficient way to finally help you achieve your goals.

 

How the Memory Palace Technique Evolved

 

The origin of the Memory Palace technique was traced to ancient Greece. As mentioned earlier, in the olden days, people had higher incentives to create effective methods of retaining information. Writing and writing materials were difficult to access.

The Memory Palace technique was introduced to the ancient Romans and the world via Greek rhetorical treatises.

The Roman Cicero described the Memory Palace technique in his writings on rhetoric, called De Oratore.

In De Oratore, Circero claims that his Memory Palace method originated from the Greek poet Simonides. Simonides was commissioned to recite a poem praising a group of nobles at a banquet. After the recitation, Simonides left the hall and shortly after the edifice collapsed and killed all the people in the banquet.

The bodies were so badly mangled that not even close relatives could identify the corpses of their own people. However, Simonides was able to identify each of the corpses by name based on their location. Based on this experience, Simonides devised the Memory Palace technique (Bower 1970).

Whether this story is reality or myth, it illustrates the basic idea behind the Memory Palace technique. Luckily, you don’t have to attend a tragic banquet to master the technique and start using it to improve your information retention.

For a true story that will rivet you from beginning to end, check out The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci.

 

How to Create a Memory Palace

 

The basic idea behind the Memory Palace Technique is to associate pieces of information with a location that you are very familiar with. A prime example would be of your home.

If you’d like some free Memory Palace worksheets and a concise memory improvement video course, do this now:

 

If you close your eyes right now, you can probably picture your home with a high degree of detail. You know where the furniture is found, what colors the walls are, and even where small objects are placed.

The Memory Palace technique has to do with associating information with specific areas of that familiar location. As you walk through that location, you place pieces of information that you wish to memorize in specific areas. When you want to recall the information, you go through that mental route, and the information will be easily accessible.

The technique is made more effective when you add surprising or out-of-the normal features to the information.

For example, assuming you would like to memorize this sequence of words:

• hero
• drill
• spacecraft
• music

You could imagine yourself at your front door, with a hero standing next to you. Here you’ve made an association between your door and a hero.

You can increase your ability to memorize and retain this by making the memory more distinctive or unusual. For example, you could imagine the hero opening the door for you, or banging on it before you enter.

You then walk down your hall, and before your feet is a drill. To increase the power of this imagery, imagine that it is turned on and you have to leap to avoid being hurt.

You then turn the corner and see a spacecraft flying out of the window leaving behind itself a trail of glitter.

Finally, you sat down on the couch, and as your bottom touches the cushion, your favorite song starts playing. You might even imagine the word “music” written on the cushion before you sit.

 

The Memory Palace Technique Is Not Necessarily Visual

 

As you can see, the technique seems to require a vivid visual imagination. However, when done correctly using all of the Magnetic Modes, you can memorize a very large amount of information relatively quickly without necessarily seeing the Memory Palace in your mind.

Here’s an infographic to teach you all about the different ways that your brain perceives information:

Keeping the full range of your Magnetic Modes in mind, you can use any home or location with which you are familiar.

You can even use small areas, such as the inside of a broom closet. You can even use your own body, attaching information to different limbs.

Just keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to see the Memory Palace. You can feel it, hear it, taste it, smell it and even just think about it.

If any of this seems odd, continue reading to be convinced of how seriously well the Memory Palace technique works. You might want to see just how well the Memory Palace can work in combination with Mind Mapping too.

 

The Science behind the Memory Palace Technique

 

Many studies have been conducted to analyze the effectiveness of the Memory Palace technique. It’s all based on the scientific fact that your brain and spatial memory perceive space as a kind of image.

Check out this lecture for more information about how that works:

Cool, right?

The answer is a resounding “yes!”

Even better:

In a study conducted by J. Ross and K. A. Lawrence in 1968, the Memory Palace technique was tested on a group of 40 students. The students were asked to memorize a list of 40 items. They were given only a few minutes to do so, yet were able to recall an average of 38 out of 40 items upon immediate recall.

The next day, the average recall rate dropped to 34 out of 40 items – still very impressive!

Nature Magazine did an investigation of so-called superior memorizers (SM) in a 2002 paper (Maguire et al). They studied a group of 10 champions who had competed in the World Memory Championships.

The researchers first wanted to know if these SMs had some special natural advantages that other people do not have, such as a higher IQ.

They first found out that SMs did not have exceptional cognitive abilities. In fact, they did not even show superior performance on visual memory tasks (for example, the recall of faces).

The paper further investigated the brain structure of these SMs, and found out that their brains were not significantly different from average brains (Maguire et al 2002).

The scientists also performed functional MRI scans to see if the SMs brains were activated differently when actively memorizing. Here the SMs brains differed from normal brains – SM’s brains activated particularly when memorizing (Maguire et al 2002).

Significantly, scientists found out that SMs all used mnemonic techniques to aid in their memorization. Nine out of ten of these subjects were specifically using the Memory Palace technique (Maguire et al 2002).

Note: Some of people call it the Mind Palace method, but the basics are the same.

Plus, the different activation patterns observed were associated to the fact that SMs used mnemonic techniques, namely the Memory Palace technique, to memorize information (Maguire et al 2002).

 

No Need For A Huge IQ To Use A Memory Palace!

 

It’s not that SMs are smarter or have bigger brains than the rest of us. It’s that they use mnemonics, and specifically the Memory Palace technique to memorize information. That is the secret behind their impressive abilities. And because these SMs had been practicing the technique for a little over 11 years on average, they were really good (Maguire et al 2002).

This suggests that anyone with average abilities can use this technique to improve his/her memory.

And once you know the drill, it’s really just a matter of spending some time with a few solid Memory Palace training exercises. Like these:

Even if you are not seeking to learn large amounts of information, the Memory Palace technique still has something to offer. There is evidence that the Memory Palace technique can help maintain a healthy brain during old age.

 

Benefits of the Memory Palace
Technique for the Aging Brain

 

As we age, our memories become weaker. In elderly people, this might lead to a frustrating situation where they are struggling to recall routine information.

There has been much study on age-related memory loss, but so far not many effective solutions to this problem.

Happily, the Memory Palace technique holds promise in aiding the enhancement of memory in the aging brain.

One study conducted in Norway in 2010 employed expert instructors, who taught the Memory Palace technique to 23 volunteers. The average age of these volunteers was 61 (Engvig et al 2010).

After training, these volunteers were able to memorize a list of 30 words in sequential order in under 10 minutes – impressive!

A control group, a set of volunteers of the same average age, sex and education was included in the study. They were not trained in the Memory Palace technique, and were instructed to memorize the list as well (Engvig et al 2010).

Afterwards, both groups were released into the world to live normally for eight weeks.

When they returned to the study, researchers challenged both groups to a recall task.

They first flashed a list of 15 unrelated words, each for only a second. The volunteers were then instructed to recall the words in order.

Researchers then showed them a list of 30 words. Half of these words had been displayed in the initial 15 word list while the other half was completely new.

The volunteers were asked to pick out words that had previously appeared and also identify their correct position in the first list (Engvig et al 2010).

Volunteers trained in the Memory Palace technique outperformed the non-trained volunteers for recognizing the position of the words (Engvig et al 2010).

The study also measured the amount of brain thinning that occurred in the trained versus untrained groups of volunteers. Normal age causes the brain to shrink. The brain of the individuals showed thickening in areas of the brain which were key for visual abstract memory (Engvig et al 2010).

 

Why The Memory Palace Technique Is Not Snake Oil

 

This research and others like it have shown that the Memory Palace technique is not snake oil.

Sadly, most adults in the modern world are not encouraged to use their imagination. It might therefore be slightly challenging for someone newly using the technique to really get into it, especially if they don’t have the kind of Memory Palace example you can get when you take my free memory improvement course.

However, after practice, many find out that this memory technique is not only effective in memorization, but is also very engaging. Certainly more engaging than the traditional rote memorization technique.

With some practice, you’ll be impressing all of your friends and family with how good your memorization has gotten in no time.

 

References & Further Resources

 

Bower, G. H., “Analysis of a Mnemonic Device: Modern psychology uncovers the powerful components of an ancient system for improving memory” American Scientist, Vol. 58, No. 5, pp. 496-510, September–October 1970 Web. 21 Jan. 2016..

Engvig, Andreas, Anders M. Fjell, Lars T. Westlye, Torgeir Moberget, Øyvind Sundseth, Vivi Agnete Larsen, and Kristine B. Walhovd. “Effects of Memory Training on Cortical Thickness in the Elderly.” NeuroImage 52.4 (2010): 1667-676. 1 Oct. 2010. Web. 22 Jan. 2016.

Fan, Shelley. “Can a Mnemonic Slow Memory Loss with Age?” Scientific American Blog Network. 20 Mar. 2014. Web. 22 Jan. 2016.

Maguire, Eleanor A., Elizabeth R. Valentine, John M. Wilding, and Narinder Kapur. “Routes to Remembering: The Brains behind Superior Memory.” Nature Neuroscience Nat Neurosci 6.1 (2002): 90-95. Web. 22 Jan. 2016.

The post Memory Palace Science: Proof That This Memory Technique Works appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

You’ve heard about Mind Mapping and Memory Palaces, right?

Well, if you’re anything like the hundreds of people who have emailed me about it, you’ve probably wondered …

“Can I bring Mind Mapping and the Memory Palace together?”

To help me answer the question, I asked the reigning World Mind Mapping champion Phil Chambers to talk about Mind Mapping and how to bring this creativity, memory and learning tool together with a Memory Palace.

Turns out that we had a lot more than just that to talk about. Tune in to this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast and learn all about.

How To Combine Mind Mapping And
Memory Palaces With Phil Chambers

⊕ The techniques Phil uses in his personal daily memory practice.

⊕ How to capture and store ideas using memory techniques – even when you’re driving.

⊕ The number-rhyme technique to take action on to-do list items. (Not to be mistaken for the Major Method/Major System.)

⊕ The perfect Mind Mapping definition and where to learn more about mind mapping techniques

⊕ Why there are always new things to explore in the world of memory techniques. Once you start using them, you will never cap out on new angles to explore and increase your skills.

⊕ The difference between semantic memory and episode memory and how using the journey method capitalizes on the power of both. This is the most “natural” way to use your memory.

Hanging out with Phil Chambers and Tony Buzan

⊕ The reasons why memory competition skills translate directly into every day memory needs we all face.

⊕ Why the principles behind Mind Mapping never changes, but Mind Mapping software continues bring new enhancements to the art and craft of this thinking, learning and planning tool.

⊕ Details on how to bring Mind Mapping together with the Memory Palace technique.

⊕ Why and how Mind Mapping uses all of the classic memory techniques.

⊕ The major criticism about memory techniques as regurgitation of knowledge and not learning – and why it’s misguided.

⊕ Why Phil’s title as a World Mind Mapping champion is up for grabs and exactly how to take his title.

⊕ The exact criteria by which world class Mind Mapping is judged.

⊕ Why you should never worry about your artistic ability when creating Mind Maps.

⊕ Phil’s Mind Mapping examples of how to schedule your week and get more done.

⊕ How Mind Mapping your daily schedule gives you many more details than a to-do list. Not only that, but you’ll often be able to double your efforts in ways you wouldn’t have otherwise seen on a page with linear notes.

Further Resources

 

101 Top Tips For Better Mind Maps By Phil Chambers for Kindle

Phil Chamber’s website (where you can subscribe to his newsletter!)

Phil Chambers on Twitter

Phil Chambers on YouTube

Phil Chambers Talks About The Outer Limits Of Memory Skills

The post How To Combine Mind Mapping And Memory Palaces With Phil Chambers appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.