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To learn or not to learn: that is the question this week on The Psych Files. Come with me as I explore mnemonic techniques, learn to memorize Hamlet’s famous speech, and learn 2 keys to true, lasting learning.
Need to memorize the parts of the brain? This will help: 
Resources For This Episode
- Click to read the article in New York Magazine by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman about the psychology of sleep.
- Here’s an article entitled, "Sleep Builds Long Term Memories" which explains from a neurological perspective why sleep is essential to long term learning
- The Memory Book: The Classic Guide to Improving Your Memory at Work, at School, and at Play
Mnemonic Techniques:
- Acronyms: “Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge” and ROY G BIV
- Rhyme – “30 days has September”
- method of Loci
- Pegword (“one is a bun”)
- Keywords
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I think the lessons given are very helpful. They give you exciting things and make you want to learn about Mnemonic
Having known mnemonics system–loci, major, rhyme–and mind maps for more than 8 years, I am sad to say that I have rarely practiced it. (I learned them primarily through Tony Buzan)
What are the motivation to practicing more? Could you make a podcast for those of us who have known meta-learning techniques for a long time, but are not willing to systematically practice?
Thanks
Jim: I think you really have to have a need to use them in order to put the into practice. I don’t use them a whole lot, but for example I recently got a new cell phone and I used the pegword system to memorize the new phone number until the number became stamped into my memory. College students really need them I think because they have so much to memorize for tests. And teachers should (hopefully) use them in their teaching. I guess if you’re not using mnemonics it’s probably because you’re not in one of those situations.