Could they help us revise for exams? A new book aims to unlock the key to a healthy memory. As we approach exam season, it is an increasingly sought-after secret.
Secrets of memory revealed in new study
Could they help us revise for exams? A new book aims to unlock the key to a healthy memory. As we approach exam season, it is an increasingly sought-after secret.
What's happening?
Techniques for remembering have existed since Ancient Greece, when an ancient Greek poet developed a strategy for remembering large quantities of information called the loci method. Now, a neurologist and a neuroscientist have used new information about the brain to write a useful book instructing us on how to build a better memory.
Memory is a weird and marvellous thing. New studies show that our brains can contain about 2.5 petabytes of information - the equivalent of three million hours of TV!
But sometimes we feel like we cannot remember anything, especially when we are tired or we have a test. Two writers who recently penned a book about memory came up with a mnemonic device to memorise information.
The device is called FOUR. The F stands for "focus" - you have to focus your attention on the information that you want to learn. The O stands for "organise", because you have to organise the information in your brain for it to stick.
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The U stands for "understand" - it is nearly impossible to remember information without understanding it. And the R stands for "relate", since you should try to make the new information relate in some way to knowledge you already have in your brain.
Yes! These are very helpful tips from professionals who know a lot about the brain. How could they not be helpful for exam revision?
No! Everyone has their own ideal way of learning and everyone has a different brain. You need to find your own strategies because the same things will not work for everyone.