As neuroscientist Michael Atzemia of MIT often says, the systematic use of such techniques “is as basic a workout for the brain as aerobics is for the body.”
Our ability to remember, store information memory and remembering them is something we take for granted until the moment we feel our memory betraying us.
Despite the advancement of technology and our continued reliance on “smart” devices to remember things, scientists and mental health professionals are returning to the very old and proven method of memorization. It’s about the method The locus method or more commonly known as the Memory Palace . We would (perhaps somewhat inappropriately) call it the “places method” or otherwise the “Memory Palace”.
What is the memory palace method?
This particular memorization technique relies on people’s ability to easily remember pictures and places.
And how did it happen? according to Article published in National GeographicThe Memory Palace helps us remember information by mentally placing it in places we know well, such as in our home or on a route we often take.
In other words, we imagine that each point (e.g. sofa, front door, stairs) holds within it some information that we want to remember. That way, we can easily remember what we stopped there when our mind “goes” back to that location.
For example, if we want to remember a list of objects, we can mentally “place” them like this: imagine milk on the sofa or apples rolling on the kitchen floor.
The more imaginative, funny or unexpected these images are, the more powerful they are.
From ancient times to the present day
This technique is not new. It was used by the Roman orator Cicero to memorize long speeches.
Today, it has resurfaced thanks to modern “memory athletes” who use it to memorize thousands of facts in international competitions. From word lists to shuffled decks in no time.
Most impressively, scientists, neuropsychologists, and cognitive health professionals are discovering new applications of this method in the treatment of mental and neurological disorders.
A method in the service of brain health
Cognitive development and dementia prevention
THE Michael Dottinoits founder American Memorial Contest, developed programs based on this method for elderly people in the early stages of dementia. In collaboration with an artistic coach Katerina Hagandeveloped a program that combines physical exercise, social interaction and memory training.
Participants who applied this method under the guidance of experts noticed a significant improvement in their memory and psycho-emotional state.
Psychological support and trauma rehabilitation
Clinical neuropsychologist Erica Weber conducts clinical trials on the effectiveness of the method in people with depression, post-traumatic stress or traumatic brain injury.
By creating mental “palaces” filled with positive images and memories, patients have a safe mental “space” to return to in times of crisis or distress.
Why does it work so well?
The human brain evolved to recognize space and remember images, not to store lists of words or numbers. The “Places” method taps into this spatial-visual intelligence, “rebuilding” memory in a more efficient form.
Modern neuroimaging studies show that many areas of the brain are activated when using the method.
Not only memory, but also imagination, visual processing and orientation. In this way, the neural connections associated with concentration and memory are strengthened.
Beyond age and disease
This technique is not just for the elderly or people with memory problems. Can be used:
- by students for education
- by professionals who need to remember lists, information or procedures
- by artists and creators to stimulate the imagination and seek inspiration
- and from all of us who want to “sharpen” our minds without technological means
Mental aerobics: The invisible workout
As the neurologist usually says Michael Atzemian of MIT, the systematic use of such techniques “is as fundamental an exercise for the brain as aerobics is for the body.”