5 Easy Ways to Improve Recall of Things

Modern science is just beginning to understand how human brains work. This massive, complex neural network that governs your bodily functions is an astounding machine. You have the ability to instantaneously recall information from several unrelated topics, one after the other, a feat that current-generation computer hard drives still struggle to do.

The human brain has a specific way of committing new information to memory. Everything you learn or want to remember is initially stored in shortterm memory.

The short-term memory container is small, and old information is quickly replaced by new input. According to studies, the short-term memory module is able to hold about seven pieces of information for up to 20 seconds. Luckily, over the years, scientists have developed some methods for ensuring that information sticks around for the long term.

Here are the strategies to employ to be sure you don’t forget important information:

NO. 1 -- WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU NEED TO REMEMBER

In 2014, researchers Pam Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer published a study in the psychological science journal which indicated students who used pen and paper were more likely to understand and remember information than colleagues who used laptops.

The act of putting pen to paper recruits a whole different set of neurons and musculature, thereby giving the

WRITER: RAHIT RAUT

brain more data about the topic you’re trying to learn. As a result, you’re more likely to remember what you write down.

NO. 2 -- EMPLOY MNEMONIC DEVICES

Mnemonics are tools or devices that help you remember information better. Mnemonics involve making a more complex piece of information into a smaller, easier-to-remember phrase or symbol.

For example, to remember the colors of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet), the phrase “Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain” is commonly used.

The first letter of each word in the phrase corresponds to a color of the rainbow. It is much easier to remember using mnemonics than trying to remember a list of unrelated colors.

NO. 3 -- USE VISUAL CUES

A picture is definitely worth a thousand words. Brains are better at remembering visual information than remembering text. If you’re trying to learn a new information, consider using visual symbols as you take notes. Physically drawing a symbol offers the benefits of tactile feedback for memorization.

NO. 4 -- USE REPETITION

While some experts think repetition is an inefficient way to memorize things, it is still extremely popular, especially among young learners. Repetition forces the brain to focus on a specific piece of information, which increases the likeli- hood of remembering it.

Through the years, there have been a few variations of this popular tactic. Among the notable ones are rhythmic songs that use repetition or a strategy called spaced repetition. Spaced repetition is the process of exposing yourself to the same information at progressively longer intervals. When you begin learning something new, use frequent repetition. Gradually, you increase the interval between repetitions to a few hours and then a few days.

NO. 5 -- MAKE SURE YOU’RE GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP

Sleep is absolutely essential to preserving the integrity of the information you’re learning. While you sleep, your brain categorizes information it has received so it can be recalled easily when the needed.

In 2012, a study published in the PLOS journal by researchers at the University Medical Center in Freiburg, Germany, found humans have an enhanced ability to assimilate information if they look at it immediately before sleep. To use this mechanism to your advantage, keep your notes handy while you’re in bed. Immediately before you drift off, review the most important things you want to remember.

Having a good memory is an advantage in almost all walks of life. Whether you’re trying to learn a new skill or a new language, improving your recall is essential.

Use these techniques to enhance the efficiency of your memory and unlock your learning potential.