Week 3 - Memory Flashcards
What are the two memory systems discussed in the course?
Working memory and long term memory?
What is an analogue for working memory?
Working memory is like a poor blackboard that quickly fades.
What is an analogue for long term memory?
Long term memory is like a storage warehouse.
Describe how to store items in long term memory.
You need to practice and repeat in order to help store items in long term memory so you can retrieve them more easily. Practicing and repeating, all in one day, is a bad idea. You want to extend your practice to several days.
About how many items can you hold in your working memory?
Four
What memory systems can you tap into in order to improve your memory? How?
We have outstanding visual and spatial memory systems. If you tap into those systems, it will
help improve your memory. To begin tapping into your visual memory system, try making a very memorable visual image representing one key item you want to remember. Beyond merely seeing, try to feel, to hear and even to smell something you’re trying to remember. The funnier and more evocative the image is, the better.
What happens when you master a technique or concept?
When you master a technique or concept in some sense, it compacts the ideas so they can occupy less space in your working memory when you do bring them to mind. This frees your mental thinking space so that it can more easily grapple with other ideas.
In addition to visual memory, what is another way to improve memory?
Create meaningful groups that simplify the material. Try associating numbers with years or with systems you’re familiar with like running times. Many disciplines use memorable sentences.
Describe the Memory Palace technique.
The memory palace technique, placing memorable images in a scene that’s familiar to you, allows you to dip into the strength of your visual memory system, providing a particularly powerful way of grouping things you want to remember.
