How Can silly mnemonics boost memory?
A mnemonic is a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations that help us remember something. You probably remember the mnemonic from grade school, “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally”. I remember hearing this phrase again and again in middle school and high school math classes. It was an easy way to remember the order of operations: Parentheses, Exponent, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction
It has nothing to do with math terms, but it is a little silly and stood out amongst a class full of numbers.
When you have a list, process, or collection of words to remember, create a short, silly mnemonic like this. Mnemonics boost memory and are even easier to remember when they rhyme.
Why This Strategy Works
Our brains are wired to focus on and give attention to things that stand out as different from the normal. It helps us stay attuned to potential danger.
We can hack our brain’s normal tendencies to help us remember facts for an exam easier. When everything you study sounds exactly the same it is hard to remember one piece of information over another. Use the same strategy to make certain information stand out from the rest of your class material and it will stick in memory easier.
Like this idea? Read more about how it can help and grab other memorization tips.
Leave me a note below and let me know how this quick study tip worked for you!
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