Use of Mnemonics and Neurobics to Enhance Memory Skills

Some of the Mnemonics which can be used in increasing memory are:

1. Visualizing: While encoding the information, if it is mentally represented in any form/shape/symbol, it is easier to recall and retrieve. E.g. a difficult stanza of a poem can be turned into a relevant symbol (i.e. pertaining to its meaning) and be associated with the previous and next stanza.
2. Image Association: It refers to generation of connection between two entities that appear to represent the other. E.g. ‘Buenos Tardes’ is the word for ‘Good Morning’ in Spanish. To remember it, one can use association. The word ‘Buenos Tardes’ can be associated with mental picture of a beautiful sunrise. Next time you encounter a pictorial representation of sunrise, you would remember the word ‘Buenos Tardes’.

Neurobics: Neurobics pertains to activities or mental tasks that aim to stimulate the brain to help alleviate memory loss. These tasks create new neural connections and strengthen old ones by challenging them. Some of the neurobics are:

i. Getting up in Morning: Brush your teeth by your non-dominant hand. Try to do other activities by your non-dominant hand, e.g., tying your wristwatch with non-dominant hand.

ii. Commuting: Try taking a new route to your work or market. It lets you realize, how we are unaware of our surroundings.

iii. Using touch: Try to fit in the key of the house by using sense of touch, rather than sense of sight. Try some other activities where sense of touch can be optimized.

iv. Dinner time: Change the sitting arrangements at dinner time. It lets you recognize the rigid patterns we use in our routine.