Maximizing Learning & Memorization

Whether one is studying for an anatomy exam or formulating a list of items to purchase at the grocery store, the ability to store and retrieve information from memory is an imperative aspect of everyday life. Contrary to what one may think, memories are malleable and can either be improved upon or, on the other hand, be distorted to the point of false memories. Improving one’s memory, whether it is of factual information or of past experiences, can have endless benefits and can ultimately aid in molding one’s own narrative and personality.

On October 18, 2016, Loyola students had the opportunity to attend a neuroscience seminar by Dr. Donna J. Bridge, a psychology professor from Northwestern University. In her lecture, Dr. Bridge discussed the research conducted in her lab regarding memory reactivation and the effects it has on memory consolidation and storage. Memory reactivation refers to brain activity that corresponds to previously learned information. One is able to retrieve previously acquired information through reactivation of neural networks. Depending on the accuracy of retrieval, the memories can either be updated and improved or distorted through successive retrieval episodes.

Dr. Bridge’s research study involved participants over the course of 3 sessions who learned object-location associations and then completed a cued-recall test while also recording electroencephalogram (EEG) data. The study found that retrieval did in fact improve storage of previously learned information. It also found that memory retrieval was distorted depending on spatial location modifications during cued recall.

The association between a particular location and memory recall dates far back into ancient times. In the article published on The New York Times, “An Ancient and Proven Way to Improve Memorization”, the author describes a text written in the 80s B.C. regarding “the art of memorization” which teaches the “method of loci”. The “method of loci”, as described in the article, is a memorization technique known to be highly effective that involves associating ideas or objects that need to be memorized with a particular, well-known locations along a familiar route. The idea is that by associating ideas or objects with particular locations and creating, often times, whacky and unusual images into memory, one is better able to recall the information.

With the findings in regards to “the method of loci”, along with advances in science and technology in modern research, we are starting to better understand the underlying neural activity that is involved in memory retrieval. Åll of this ultimately contributes to our understanding in an effort to learn how we can improve our ability to memorize and recall information. Findings from Dr. Bridge’s research along with other related studies provide empirical evidence to suggest how well-known locations can aid in recalling information from memory. Combining the two, one can ultimately conclude that repetition through accurate retrieval, along with the “method of loci”, can lead to improved memory recall as compared to rote memorization alone. So the next time you have the option of studying a little every day or pulling an all-nighter the night before for that anatomy exam, perhaps you can consider some of these findings in your own learning process in order to earn that A+.

Works Cited:

Bridge, Donna J., and Ken A. Palmer. "Neural Correlates of Reactivation and Retrieval-Induced Distortion." Journal of Neuroscience. N.p., Aug. 2012. Web. 18 Oct. 2016.

Frakt, Austin. "An Ancient and Proven Way to Improve Memorization; Go Ahead and Try It." The New York Times. The New York Times, 23 Mar. 2016. Web. 19 Oct. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/24/upshot/an-ancient-and-proven-way-to-improve-memory-go-ahead-and-try-it.html>.

  

Images:

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http://bufvc.ac.uk/wp-content/media/2013/05/Memory-Network.jpg