Many people are looking to memory techniques or mnemonic devices to help improve their memory skills. These techniques often involve categorization or visualization to help connect to the information you are trying to learn. One of the oldest mnemonic techniques is “the memory palace” or the “method of loci”. It was created by an ancient Greek poet named Simondes and has been used by scholars, priests and politicians for thousands of years to help them remember large amounts of text and information.

The memory palace has gained renewed attention from the book Moonwalking With Einstein by Joshua Foer. Foer, a journalist who was covering the Memory Championship circuit, became a participant when he was convinced by other competitors that anyone can train their memory to do what they are doing. The memory palace became the primary mnemonic device for his training. After a year of conditioning, he participated in the US finals and won.

We all probably have things that we are better at remembering than others. I had a friend who could freakishly name what year almost any popular song from the past 5 decades was released. Our visual-spatial memory though seems to be one of our strongest areas of memory. This could be because we use our imagination to visualize spaces rather than just recall. One of my fellow brain coaches says he can remember the layout of New York City, but not what year he was there.

The memory palace associates mental images with specific locations. Here’s how it works:

1. Choose a specific location that is very familiar to you. You need to be able to divide this place into multiple segments or rooms. For instance, your childhood home is a strong choice or use a street that you know like the back of your hand. Using these reference points will help you remember each item.

2. Take a list of items or points that you need to remember. As you visualize yourself moving through your chosen location, assign each item on your list to a specific room or building.

3. Create a unique mental image for each item and its location. The crazier the image is, the more likely it is to “stick in your brain”. The brain loves novelty. You can connect a smell or sound to the image as well. Adding other senses to the image will also make it easier to remember.

4. When you need to remember your list, mentally walk through your chosen location and visualize each of the items as you move through the space.

If you are interested in learning more about the memory palace and other techniques or you would like to find some ways to improve your memory, check out the following items on our website:

Moonwalking With Einstein
Read about Joshua Foer’s foray into the strange world of competitive memory and learn how to use the memory palace.

The Memory Bible
Memory Guru Dr. Gary Small from UCLA’s Center on Aging created this practical guide to memory improvement that includes information on how memory works, nutrition information, as well as memory exercises and techniques.

NeuroActive Complete
This fast-paced challenging brain training software program teaches you several memorization strategies to use in conjunction with the memory exercises in the program.

The Brain Fitness Program
One of my all time favorite products, Posit Science’s Brain Fitness Program moves beyond memory technique and exercises and focuses on retraining the brain to receive, process and record information quickly and accurately.

6 Reasons Why Travel is Good for Your Brain:

1. Change of routine. When we change our daily routine, we stimulate our brain in new ways. According to neurobiologist Lawrence Katz, when we present the brain with non-routine activities that incorporate our physical senses, we promote the growth of new neural pathways and the creation of neurotrophins. Neurotrophins are brain nutrients that make neural cells stronger and more resistant to the effects of aging (Keep Your Brain Alive).

2. Maps. When we travel to new places, we almost always use maps to find our way around. Maps are a great workout for our visual-spatial skills and our memory.

3. Language. If you travel to a foreign country, you have to be able to communicate in another language even if it’s rudimentary. Learning new language and then speaking it works both hemispheres of the brain.

4. Museums and historical attractions. Sightseeing agendas almost always include these, and they are full of fascinating information to see, hear and touch. Learning new information, as well as recalling facts we may already know about a place or historical event, gives our memory a workout.

5. Walking. Exercise is great for the brain and most people are more physically active on vacation than they are normally.

6. Less time in front of the television. Down-time and time spent getting to and from your destination is often filled with reading, doing puzzles or playing games with your travel companions. These are all great ways to strengthen your cognitive skills. We have lots of fun and challenging travel games and puzzle books. Some of our fellow travelers enjoy Scrabble Slam, Kwizniac, Spot it and Mini Quarto.

Brain Fitness Program

MindFit

Obviously not everyone’s parents are the same, and each brain fitness software program provides a unique brain workout. They have been scientifically tested and proven to work different parts of the brain. The Brain Coaches are here to help you figure out what fits you (or your parent in this case) best.

I am thrilled when people are willing to give the brain fitness software a try. It truly makes a difference and is fun!

NeuroActive Complete

I also understand if you would rather stick to something more hands-on, and so I have some suggestions for that area as well.

Set

There are more possibilities as well! Come chat with us and we will find the perfect fit for you.

Snatch-It

Brain Software:
Art Dealer
Brain Fitness Program
Insight
Mindfit
NeuroActive

Insight - for Mac and PC

Of course, there are many more possibilities that you can discover in our stores or online. Feel free to ask a Brain coach for their favorites or recommendations for any age – that is what we are here for.

I was inspired to learn more about grandparents, who are so important to our families. In fact, grandparents are becoming more and more important in the lives of their grandchildren. GrannyVoter.org reports that more than 6% of American children live with their grandparents and that number has increased by over 30% in the last decade. The average age of first-time grandparents is 48, making grandparents a powerful force as the Baby Boomers move into that age group.

While Grandparents Day is on September 13th, Marbles will be celebrating a day early on Saturday, September 12th, as part of our Memory Week with 15% off for grandparents in all three stores.

How do you tell your grandparents how important they are? Enter our Grandparents Day Contest:

Posit Science Brain Fitness Program

To enter your grandparent to win the Brain Fitness Program, please tell us in 250 words or less: What is the most important lesson that your grandparent has taught you?

To qualify, entries must be received no later than September 8th, 2009. Please drop your entry off at any of our stores or email it to lhagan@marblesthebrainstore.com.