Memory Flashcards
What is the major system?
Invented in 1648 by Johann Winkelman, the Major System is simple way to encode number into phonetic sounds that can be turned into words, and thus images.
Associated consonants for 0
Consonants: S, Z, soft C Rationale: Z is the first letter of zero and the other letters have a similar sound
Associated consonants for 1
Consonants: D, T Rationale: D & T have one downstroke and sound similar
Associated consonants for 2
Consonants: N Rationale: N has two downstrokes
Associated consonants for 3
Consonants: M Rationale: M has three downstrokes and looks like 3 on its side
Associated consonants for 4
Consonants: R Rationale: Last letter of four and 4 and R are mirror images
Associated consonants for 5
Consonants: L Rationale: L is the Roman numeral for 50
Associated consonants for 6
Consonants: J, SH, soft “CH”, ZH, soft “G” Rationale: J has a lower loop and G is 6 flipped over
Associated consonants for 7
Consonants: K, hard C, hard G, hard “CH, Q, QU Rationale: K contains two 7s
Associated consonants for 8
Consonants: F, V Rationale: Script F resembles a figure-8 and V sounds similar
Associated consonants for 9
Consonants: BP Rationale: P is the mirror-image 9 and B sounds similar and has a 9 rolled around
Unassigned
Letters: vowels, W, H, Y Rationale: These can be used anywhere without changing a world’s number value
What are the two components of trained memory?
Trained memory has two basic components: images and places. Images represent the contents of what one wishes to remember Places (loci) are where those images are stored (memory palaces)
What is the basic strategy of “elaborative encoding” memory techniques?
Change whatever boring thing is being inputted into your memory into something that is so colorful, so exciting, and so different from anything that you’ve seen before that you can’t possibly forget it.
How do you make images memorable?
The funnier, lewder, and more bizarre, the better. Jokes and sex are particularly memorable. Create images of exceptional beauty or singularly ugliness, put them into motion, and ornament them in ways that render them more distinct e.g. disfigure them with blood or mud.
What is the PAO System?
PAO (person/action/object) System — every two-digit number from 00-99 is represented by a single image of a persona performing an action on an object. Any six digit number can then be turned into a single image by combining the person from the first number with the action from the second and the object from the third. This effectively generates a unique and memorable image for every number 0 to 999,999.
What are the three learning stages?
Cognitive stage — Intellectualizing a task and discovering new strategies to accomplish it more proficiently
Associative stage — Concentrating less, making fewer major errors, and generally becoming more efficient
Autonomous stage — Running on autopilot; this has less to do with our innate abilities, and more to do with what we consider an acceptable level of performance
How to experts continuously develop their skills?
What separates experts from others is they develop strategies to stay in the cognitive phase:
- Focusing on technique
- Staying goal-oriented
- Geting constant and immediate feedback on their performance
When you want to get good at something, how you spend your time practicing is far more important when how much time you spend.
Pro tip: Put yourself in the mind of someone far more competent at the task you are trying to master, and figure out how that person works through problems
