Anthony Metivier's Blog, page 29

2 Powerful Recovered Memory Palace Training Exercises With Olivia

What if I told you that recovered memory is a skill that you can use to create a better Memory Palace Network?

And what if you had a simple autobiographical memory test you could give yourself again and again to keep improving your memory?

If that sounds interesting to you, you’re in luck.

Tap or click play now and discover:

Exactly how to unpack memories from your past you may have lost – and turn them into a Memory Palace Network!
How I memorized the dates in Walter Ong’s Ramus, Method, and the Decay of Dialogue
More on Lynne Kelly’s amazing account of memory and memory techniques of the Aborigines and other prehistoric groups in The Memory Code
The simple steps of this incredible memory training exercise you can use to help recall more from your past
The significance of juggling information in your mind without the aid of technology and the quest of balance in the age of computers
How to map out a simple Memory Palace using your elementary school
The right questions to ask yourself while completing this autobiographical memory and episodic memory training activity.
How you can benefit from these brain exercises over the long term.
How these kinds of memory recovery exercises can help you deal with depression in ways that improve memory
The importance of taking consistent action along your memory improvement journey

And that’s just the beginning!

The Profound Reasons Why You Have A Super Autobiographical Memory

In this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, I introduced a Memory Palace training exercise with Olivia.

Olivia had a blank spot in her mind when I met her.

So I took the opportunity to teach her a quick Memory Palace training exercise that anyone can do.

It will let you experience recovered memory at a profound level that helps you learn languages.

And when you unlock all of those Memory Palaces lying dormant in your autobiographical memory…

Recovered Memory Can Become

The Most Powerful Memory Training Asset In Your World

Autobiographical and episodic memory involve personal memories from the past. However, they are not exactly the same.

If you’re interested in improving your episodic memory, check out the links in the resources section below.

You can also watch this video version of the session with Olivia: 

 

The Truth About Your Magnetic Repressed Memory Symptoms

Okay, okay, I’m being a bit dramatic.

But having worked with thousands of people over the years, I’ve noticed something.

People are afraid to use Memory Palaces.

I call this fear “Memory Palace Scarcity.”

When so many people around the world just want to remember what they learn…

Only to get hung up on not having enough Memory Palaces…

Well, then, yes! I do think this problem counts as “repressed memory.”

You see, many people are chasing after a solid flashbulb memory definition.

The True Path To So-Called FlashBulb Memory

That search will never end unless you create multiple Memory Palaces and Dive in to the exercise I gave Olivia on this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast.

It’s powerful because it completely eliminates Memory Palace Scarcity.

Kind of the same way using The Freedom Journal for language learning keeps you focused on making the most out of your time.

Give the quick autobiographical Memory Palace training exercises you’ll learn on this episode a try.

This process will improve your practice in creating and finding more Memory Palaces.

But you’ve got to use them for the future as well as the path.

Sure, the exercises you’ll learn will help you recover some of your past.

But the most important element is how you use your Magnetic Memory Palace Network to easily learn and remember information for the future.

How Accurate Are Your Memories?

I hope that Olivia’s openness to learning about brain exercises and the Memory Palace exercise I gave her inspires you to dive deeper into your autobiographical memory.

I’m confident too that you’ll be amazed by how learning more about your episodic memory helps you on your journey to remembering numbers, facts and vocabulary.

They are truly all intertwined.

And from there, you just need to give yourself simple memory tests. 

Oh, and if you’re a parent, combine this episode with these memory improvement techniques for kids.

Let me know in the comments below how you fare!

Oh, and if you haven’t got this yet:

… don’t you think you should?

It will be useful for you if you master the basic foundations and fundamentals of creating Memory Palaces to make the most out of it.

Further Memory Improvement Resources:

Episodic Memory And How To Improve It: A Step-By-Step Training Guide

The Memory Code: Prehistoric Memory Techniques You Can Use Now

How to Find Memory Palaces

Ramus, Method, and the Decay of Dialogue by Walter Ong

3 Shocking Ways Smartphone Addiction Erodes Your Brain And Memory

The post 2 Powerful Recovered Memory Palace Training Exercises With Olivia appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

How Jessie Villalobos Got A Promotion – Magnetic Memory Method Review

This is perhaps the best Magnetic Memory Method Review online so far:

“The more you try it, the better you do. Every attempt is incrementally better than the last time.”

-Jesse Villalobos

Since constant improvement is what the memory method taught on this website is all about, I was delighted to hear these words from one of our course participants.

Even better:

In this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, you can hear them directly from Jesse Villalobos too.  

Scroll up and click play. Listen in we talk about:

How Jesse based his PAO system on the Major Method for remembering numbers…
Jesse’s Magnetic Journey using the PAO system (Person Action Object)…
How Jesse used this approach to get a raise and a promotion at his job!

Of the many tips you’ll discover, here’s one of the most important points:

Jesse keeps listening to the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast for motivation week after week. Yes, even though he completed the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass.

This point is important. Jesse’s approach combines a solid study ethic and continually feeding himself with ideas and inspiration.

And when Jesse started, he was serious about getting results. He wanted to get really good at memorizing numbers.

His success secret?

Taking action!

It’s not just about learning about memory techniques. It’s about applying them in meaningful ways one S.I.P. at a time:

S.I.P.

Study memory techniques

Implement memory techniques

Practice memory techniques with information that improves your life

It’s this approach that helped Jesse get the mastery over the Person Action Object and Major Method that he wanted.

Aside from remembering numbers, Jesse also learned . This skill provided other unexpected benefits from memory training that Jesse hadn’t even anticipated!

If you’ve been looking for an extra bit of insight about how the Magnetic Memory Method can help you, try Jessie’s advice:

Just dive into learning and using memory techniques.

Download this episode and learn from Jesse’s experiences and insights. You’ll learn exactly how improving his memory has helped his personal confidence and well-being.

Press play now and you’ll discover:

How memory techniques help Jesse in his work. It involves remembering a lot of numbers.
Why using memory techniques is an “out of body experience.”
Jesse’s feeling about how he gains more energy than he burns using memory strategies.
Examples of a well-functioning Person-Action-Object system to memorize numbers based on the Major Method.
The process of how Jesse created his Magnetic Memory Palace Network and how it all works in detail.
The importance of drawing your Memory Palaces for total success.
How Jesse handles problems with ghosting or the Ugly Sister Effect.
How Jesse discovered the Magnetic Memory Method and what it has brought to him both personally and professionally.
How Jesse got a raise and promotion. By demonstrating competence, his co-workers started perceiving him as an expert thanks to Magnetic Memory Palaces and memory techniques.
A family-related memory issue that encourages Jessie to keep his mind active.
The positive influence of listening to Magnetic Memory Method Podcast over time.
Jesse’s perspective on avoiding perfectionism.
Other memory improvement books and courses that really impacted Jesse. 

Do you have questions about how the Magnetic Memory Method can help you perform better at your work?

Do you want more answers to your questions about mnemonics?

If so, please dive into the episode and learn more about how you can get on a call with me. If you want me to help you transform into a walking, talking mnemonics dictionary, I’d like to help.

 

Further Memory Improvement Resources:

 

Harry Lorayne

Get Good At Remembering Numbers

How to Memorize Numbers With A PAO System [Person Action Object]

Major System Secrets And The Future Of Your Memory With Florian Dellé

 

Want More Magnetic Memory Method

Reviews and Testimonials? 

 

Lee Escobar’s Magnetic Memory Method Review and Testimonial

Paul Deery’s Memory Improvement Demonstration and Magnetic Memory Method Review

The Magnetic Memory Method Testimonials and Reviews Page

The post How Jessie Villalobos Got A Promotion – Magnetic Memory Method Review appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

How to Improve Memory for Studying (7 Powerful Tips)

Do you want to know how to improve your memory for studying?

Who doesn’t?

After all, it’s the 21st century and there’s so much to learn!

Seriously:

There’s too much to study in too little time – especially before an exam.

But it’s not just a time issue.

It’s not just an issue of volume when it comes to so many books and videos to consume.

The core of the problem isn’t any of those things.

The core of the problem is memory…

The things that your brain just can’t memorize no matter how many times you repeat them.

Why?

Because you don’t have a strategy for managing your learning and memory.

But don’t worry!

In this article, I will show you seven powerful techniques to help you remember anything you have to study. You’ll learn everything far more easily – facts, dates, formulae, equations, whatever.

These techniques will make it far easier for you to ace your next exam.

Let’s dive in.

1. The Memory Palace (The Top Recommendation)

 

Want just one simple method that helps improve memory for studying?

Look no further than the Memory Palace.

Memory champions and experts all agree that it’s the most effective method to remember anything at all. In fact, one expert used the technique to memorize the value of Pi till nearly 112,000 digits.

This memory technique was developed in Ancient Greece. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘Method of Loci’ or ‘Cicero Method.’ You might also hear it called the ‘Roman Room’ or the ‘Journey Method’.

Although there are many variations, here’s the core of how it all works.

With the Memory Palace technique, you associate each piece of information you want to memorize with parts of a location that you are very familiar with – such as your house or your school campus.

 

Why “Method of Loci” Memory Technique Is Too Vague…

 

In the Magnetic Memory Method, we don’t use the term “loci.” It’s too vague.

Instead, we work with Magnetic Stations. On these stations we place our Magnetic Imagery.

For instance, if you wanted to remember a number of important dates about the Second World War, you could ‘file them’ in your medicine cabinet.

Or, better said, “Magnetize” them in place. Associating each bit of information with a physical object within a familiar space helps the brain store the information.

More than just store it, your brain stores the study material systematically and retrieves it easily when needed.

Just make sure to draw your Memory Palace first for the best results. Like this:

Seriously go ahead and draw your Memory Palaces. Once you know the strategy behind why Magnetic Memory Palaces serve better than the rest, each one should take 2-5 minutes (or less).

The best part?

You can use this memory retention technique to remember complex terminology, numbers, formulae – anything at all.

If you are not a ‘visual’ person, you can still use the technique.

You can also associate pieces of information with sounds, smells, touch – various sensory elements within the location. You do this by using the full range of the Magnetic Modes taught right here in this special infographic:

 

Probably the biggest strength of the Memory Palace technique is that you can combine it with other mnemonic methods to improve your long-term memory. I will show you a few examples of how to do this in the following sections.

To learn about the Memory Palace and what the Magnetic Memory Method brings to the game in more detail, check out this article.

2. Acronyms to Improve Memory for Studying

 

Acronyms are the most commonly used memory technique and are great for remembering short lists or sequences.

You have probably learned ‘PEMDAS’ in school – a sequence for solving equations. It stands for Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition and Subtraction.

Another common acronym to help you remember a geographical list of names is HOMES, which is used to remember the Great Lakes – Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.

Here’s a simple tip to create your own acronyms for remembering things better.

According to the Cambridge dictionary, acronyms are constructed with the first letter of each constituent word and they actually sound like words. That’s what makes them easy to remember.

We also use acronyms in the Magnetic Memory Method training, such us:



D.O.C.

Doing is the Origin of Consistency

Doing is the Origin of Creativity


Doing is the Origin of Courage

Doing is the Origin of Clarity

Doing is the Origin of Control

To get into the “doing” of memory techniques that ultimately leads to control over your memory, all you have to do is S.I.P.:

Study memory techniques

Implement memory techniques

Practice memory techniques with information that improves your life

And as you saw in the infographic above, COG KAV helps us remember all the Magnetic Modes:

Conceptual
Olfactory
Gustatory
Kinesthetic
Auditory
Visual

And let’s not forget the Magnetic Mode of space. That’s the Memory Palace itself.

But moving from these examples of acronyms, let’s get back to the technique of using them.

You might be wondering…

What do you do if the first letters don’t form a ‘word,’ because of a lack of vowels in the middle or any other reason?

Forget the definition and get creative.

Try changing the word sequence or using the second or the last letter instead of the first. If there is no vowel, pick up a second letter from a word. A common example is AWOL (Absent Without Leave.)

If you like acronyms, try combining them with the Memory Palace technique. Since each acronym is a word, it’s easy to associate them with a specific object or location in your house. That will make it even easier to remember.

3. Spaced Repetition for Memory Improvement

 

Here’s a well-known fact about memory – the more you reinforce something, the easier it becomes for your brain to recall it.

However, to improve memory for studying, when you reinforce something is far more important than how often you reinforce it. Sisti, Glass and Shors called this phenomenon the ‘spacing effect.’

In the spaced repetition method, you practice remembering at the right time. The simplest way to apply this memory method is to use flashcards when you study.

While going through your flashcards, divide them into three bundles. If you remember something clearly, those cards go into the ‘Easy’ pile. You don’t have to study those flashcards again for a week or two.

If you moderately remember something, keep it in the ‘Medium’ pile and revisit it after a few hours or a day. And if you cannot remember something at all, place it in ‘Hard’ and study  it again within the next 10 minutes.

Simple, and yet effective! At least… lot more effective than spaced-repetition software.

And if you’re in the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass, you’ll know how to combine the cards with the Memory Palace.

In brief: Anytime you have words that are ‘Medium’ or ‘Hard’, include them in a Memory Palace.

Then, use all of the Magnetic Modes to create Magnetic Imagery that helps you remember the target information. That will make the information on your cards far easier to recall.

4. The Major Method for Memory Improvement

 

Want an effortless way to remember numbers for studying –  in history, maths, physics, etc.?

Use the Major Method, also called the Major System or Harry Lorayne’s Number Mnemonics. Geeks also call it the phonetic mnemonic system and digit-consonant system.

Quite a mouthful! So, let’s just stick with the ‘ Major Method’!

Here’s how it works.

In the Major Method, you associate each number with a sound, typically, a consonant. Here’s the system most people follow:

0 = soft c, s or z

1 = d, t

2 = n

3 = m

4 = r

5 = l

6 = ch, j or sh

7 = k

8 = f or v

9 = b or p

The first step is to memorize these associations between numbers and letters. Then use these associations to form words from numbers.

For instance, 22 could be “nun” (n+n)

 

54 could be “liar” (l+r). Personally, I think of Jim Carrey in the movie “Liar Liar” with a lyre to help make it even more memorable.

To remember longer sequences of numbers, you need to combine the sounds you have made. If you want to remember the number 2254, you could visualize a nun punching Jim Carrey for lying!

Make the image as animated and ridiculous as possible, and it will stick in your mind!

If you can, create a fixed image for every number from 0 to 99. That will make it easier to combine them to remember longer sequences of numbers used in mathematics, physics, chemistry or engineering.

If that sounds like a lot to you, just associate a fixed object for each number from 0-9.

If you want to take the Major Method further, check out this article about how to combine it with the Memory Palace Technique.

5. Improve Your Focus to Improve your Memory

 

How often do you get interrupted when you study?

Texts, app notifications, YouTube, Netflix or just a noisy room – students face dozens of distractions and interruptions every single hour.

These factors make it close to impossible for you to reach a high level of concentration – which is terrible news if you are trying to improve memory for studying.

Researchers from MIT have found that it’s  easier to form a long-term memory when your mind pays close attention to a task. You will have to minimize distractions from devices or people around you if you wish to remember things better.

Here are a few ways:

Mute all notifications when you study. If you have an iPhone, just activating the ‘Do not disturb’ mode will do the trick.
Try to isolate yourself from people you know while studying. Go to a library or a café where you won’t be disturbed.
Practice meditation for just a few minutes a day. Research (Maclean et al. 2010) has indicated that just basic meditation helps us focus far better. You can learn to meditate in only a few minutes from this article.
Use app blockers like Freedom.to to block YouTube and other distracting sites while studying.
Work on one topic at a time and avoid multitasking and switching tasks.


6. Lifestyle Changes to Improve Memory for Studying

 

Your lifestyle – your food, sleep and activity levels have a significant impact on your memory.

Sleep

Most students try to gain more time to study by skipping out on adequate sleep. It just makes things worse because lack of sleep affects memory as well as several other cognitive  abilities.

Several studies by Diekelmann and Born have shown that sleep helps in procedural memory formation, learning and creativity. In fact, sleep deprivation can even make you remember things incorrectly.

Eight hours is ideal, but at least make sure you get seven hours of sleep every night.

Video course and Ebook in the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass

Food

Foods abundant in saturated fats and trans fats such as red meat, butter, etc. are quite damaging to learning and memory. Students also tend to eat a lot of junk food (especially during exam time) which are worse for your brain.

Numerous studies have shown that these foods can even lead to Alzheimer’s disease in the long-term and other conditions that damage brain health and cause memory loss.

 Instead, to improve your memory power for learning, try to have more of fish, olive oil, whole grains, walnuts, blueberries and other foods that fall in the ‘Mediterranean diet’ and are excellent for your brain.

Exercise

Exercise is well known to improve cognitive performance in several ways such as improved mood, better concentration, more alertness, etc.

So, it’s naturally very effective for improving memory. Exercise also causes the release of a protein called cathepsin B in the brain. This stimulates the growth of neurons (brain cells) and forms additional connections in the hippocampus – an area of the brain vital to learning and long-term memory.

7. Recall Before Writing

 

Teachers encourage us to write things down to remember things better. Adding a couple of steps to this process can make a vast difference to your ability to learn and memorize things quickly – especially before an exam.

First, recall and mentally repeat what you have to write down rather than just copy it mechanically.

This process isn’t difficult to do because the information will stay in your short-term memory for around 10-20 seconds if you have paid attention. And mentally recalling it right then it an excellent way of transferring it from your working memory (short-term memory) to your long-term memory.

Next, take a few seconds to store that piece of information in your Memory Palace. That will consolidate that memory even further.

 

Are You Inspired To Try These Memory Techniques?

 

Out of all these techniques, the Memory Palace happens to be the most effective and versatile method. You can easily combine it with other techniques to build an excellent memory. To learn the Magnetic Memory Method at no charge, get started by enrolling for my Memory Palace Mastery in 8 Steps Course:

And let me know in the comments below:

Which of these ways to improve memory for studying are you going to try today?

The post How to Improve Memory for Studying (7 Powerful Tips) appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Binaural Beats And Memory: Can This Crazy Music Make You Smarter?

It’s a popular perception among many people that listening to binaural beats has a special effect on the brain.

They think binaural beats can help you follow a diet or stop smoking.

Or they think these sounds can amp you up for a competition or calm you down, or even improve memory recall, focus and concentration.

The question is…

Doesn’t listening to any type of relaxing music have a similar effect?

Possibly.

In this post, we’ll find out if listening to specific frequencies can have a better impact on your mental prowess than listening to Mozart for Pink Floyd!

What Are Binaural Beats?

 

The word binaural means “having or relating to two ears.”

The process works by sending a slightly different sound frequency to each ear. This has to be done simultaneously and through earphones or headphones.

When two different pure tones are presented separately but simultaneously to each ear of a listener, the listener hears the illusion of a third tone.

This third does “appears” in addition to the two pure-tones presented to each ear. And it is this third tone that is called a binaural beat.

Let’s break this down:



When you play a 350 Hertz (Hz) tone in the left ear and a 360 Hertz tone in the right, it yields a beat with a frequency of 10 Hertz. This third beat is the binaural beat.

The brain then uses a process known as ‘frequency following response’ to follow along at the new frequency (10 Hz). This process produces brainwaves at that rate of Hertz.  

However, this outcome (apparently) occurs only if the the difference matches the alpha frequency range that lies between 7-11 Hz.

Music or white noise embedded with binaural beats is very often used along with different meditation techniques and positive affirmations to gain varying results.

In the memory training and memory improvement world, some claim you will experience results ranging from improvement in recall, concentration, focus, creativity and alertness.

There is more:

Listening to these beats is also said to provide relaxation, stress reduction, pain management, and improved sleep quality.

 

Who Heard Them First?

A Brief History of Binaural Beats

 

Binaural beats were first described in 1839 by Prussian scientist H.W. Dove.

However, it was Gerald Oster’s article in Scientific American in 1973 that brought this process to modern attention.

According to Oster, the tones needed to produce binaural beats had to be relatively low-frequency and the beats themselves were in the range of one to 30 hertz. This is the range the human brainwave frequencies fall in.

What to know the real story?

Humans have the ability to “hear” binaural beats as a result of evolutionary adaptation.

[smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/magneticmem...″ social_linkedin=”true” ]

“Many evolved species can detect binaural beats because of their brain structure. The frequencies at which binaural beats can be detected change depending upon the size of the species’ cranium. In the human, binaural beats can be detected when carrier waves are below approximately 1000 Hz.” (Oster, 1973)

 

The Binaural Process In Real Music

 

Of course, binaural beats in terms of therapy is quite different than the binaural process found in music. This process was apparently invented by Manfred Shunke who used models of the human head created with the help of computer design software.

As music historian Rob Bowman wrote in the notes for Lou Reed’s Between Thought and Expression:



“The detail was as precise as possible down to the size, shape, and bone structure of the ear and ear canal. Microphones were then designed to fit each ear so, theoretically, what they recorded would be exactly what a human sitting in the position the head was placed would actually hear.”

Binaural Beats To Manage Pain:

Why The Truth Matters For Your Memory

 

Chronic pain impacts between 10-50% of the adult population, while costing U.S. businesses over $61 billion annually.  

The neuromatrix theory suggests that the brain’s inability to return to a state of equilibrium is at the crux of chronic pain (Melzack, 2001; Melzack, 2005).

Binaural beats has been effective in synchronizing brain waves, also known as entrainment, with an external stimulus (Kennel, Taylor Lyon, & Bourguignon, 2010), and has been associated with a number of positive psychological outcomes (David, Katz, & Naftali, 2010; Lane, Kasian, Owens, & Marsh, 1998).

Research shows that an external audio protocol of theta-binaural beats is effective at reducing perceived change in pain severity.

How does this affect your memory?

The answer is simple:

Pain free people pay better attention to their surroundings.

Freedom from pain means that your levels of focus and concentration are automatically better than when impacted by ongoing or recurrent pain.

Being pain free is especially important for learning, something that requires high levels of concentration.

Speaking of which:

Do Gamma Brain Waves Improve Memory & Concentration?

 

The highest frequency brain waves are apparently called gamma waves. These waves can have a frequency of anywhere between 25 and 100 Hz.

People whose brains produce more gamma waves are said to have greater ability to concentrate, focus and experience higher levels of cognition.

A recent study by Jirakittayakorn and Wongsawat tried to find whether “modulation of the brain activity can lead to manipulation of cognitive functions. The stimulus used in this study was 40-Hz binaural beat because binaural beat induces frequency following response.”

According to the study, listening to 40-Hz binaural beat for 20 minutes enhanced working memory function evaluated by word list recall task.

Does that mean we can change our brainwave patterns by listening to specific sounds?

Maybe…

But also maybe not!

A research project by Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist, found that the brainwaves of trained monks who regularly engaged in meditation produced powerful Gamma waves, whereas the control group – with non-meditating volunteers – had little to no gamma brain waves.

What does this fact imply?

One way to improve concentration is to go Buddha style and practice long-term or short-term meditation.

Within a week of consistent meditation, you can start to experience improved concentration.

Meditation can be used to remember something because better concentration has a direct link to improved memory.

But Can Binaural Beats Help Memory?

 

Not in theory or practice according to a research article by David Siever in 2009 called Entraining Tones and Binaural Beats.

But before we go any further, the actual claims are important to look at.



So let’s take a step back and try understand how binaural beats work.

The proponents of binaural beats claim that it induces brainwave “entrainment.”

This entrainment supposedly influences and drives brainwave activity to a more desired mental state.

More specifically, entrainment is a “synchronization of two or more rhythmic cycles” and the process of brainwave entrainment relies on the natural phenomena of synchronization.  

Think of it like this:

When you strike a tuning fork and then place another one next to it, the second tuning fork automatically starts to vibrate at the same frequency.

This is a natural synchronization. Pendulum clocks, metronomes, fireflies are few other examples of natural synchronization.

However, Siever states that entrainment occurs only when a constant and repetitive sound of sufficient strength to “excite” the thalamus is present.

Siever also noted that binaural beats are not very noticeable because the modulation depth (the difference between loud and quiet) is very small at just 3db, a 2 to 1 ratio.

Here’s a longer quote:

“This means that binaural beats are unlikely to produce any significant entrainment because they don’t activate the thalamus. But they do have some hypnotic and relaxing effect by way of dissociation (as does white noise and music).

This outcome may be, in part, due to the Ganzfeld effect. The Ganzfeld effect is the process where the mind quietens as a result of having a monotonous sensory input.

A natural example of the Ganzfeld effect may be experienced while sitting in a large field in the country while staring into the wide, blue sky while listening to the white noise from the fluttering of leaves on the trees – away from the noise and other stimulation of urban life.

In other words, thanks to the Ganzfeld effect, binaural beats, through passive means, may help a person relax.

If, in theory binaural beats do not produce entrainment, do they produce entrainment and drive brainwaves in reality? The simple answer is NO!”

It’s not just Siever!

In another study, Gerald Oster used an EEG oscilloscope to conclude that binaural beats produce very small evoked potentials within the auditory cortex of the brain.

What does this?

It means that binaural beats are of little benefit in producing AE or auditory entrainment. (Oster, G. (1973). Auditory beats in the brain. Scientific American)

Researcher Dale S. Foster also found that binaural beats in the alpha frequency produced no more alpha brainwaves than listening to a surf sound.

Here’s Foster’s conclusion:

“The analysis of variance of the data revealed that there were no significant differences in alpha production either within sessions across conditions or across sessions.

Although alpha production was observed to increase in the binaural-beats condition early in some sessions, a tendency was observed for the subjects to move through alpha into desynchronized theta, indicating light sleep. Subjective reports of “dozing off” corroborated these observations. These periods of light sleep — almost devoid of alpha — affected the average alpha ratios.”

 

A More Effective Way To Gain Mental Prowess

 

The beauty of the human brains is that it needs a goal to improve.

Your memory improvement training should always be linked to memorizing information that will immediately improve your life.

Moreover, the memory improvement activities should always be measurable since tracking your outcomes leads to rapid improvement.

This is where the secret method of building Memory Palaces the Magnetic Memory Method way comes into play.

Using this Method, you not only get to remember the information faster, but also get predictable and reliable permanence that grows in strength each time.

Even better:

All other memory techniques including listening to binaural beats can be used inside of Memory Palaces.

But this never takes place the other way around (For example, you can’t use Memory Palaces inside of the Major Method the way you can use the Major Method inside of Memory Palaces.)

If you are looking for a complete brain workout try this brain fitness method…

You can also see more Unconventional Techniques Guaranteed To Help You Conjure Your Best-Ever Ideas.

The Ultimate Memory Improvement Beats?

Listen to Music That Inspires!

 

Use sound beats or music as a means of relaxation, rejuvenation or inspiration.

When you feel relaxed and inspired you can create effective Magnetic Imagery that will enable you to build better Memory Palaces to improve recall, retention and memory.

Now is that music to your ears, or what?

The post Binaural Beats And Memory: Can This Crazy Music Make You Smarter? appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

3 Effective Brain Training Exercises for Mental Illness Sufferers

This guest post on effective brain training exercises for mental illness sufferers comes from Alex Moore. 

Take it away, Alex!

Would you like some brain training exercises to keep you sharp and on top of your game all the time?

I hope the answer is a resounding, “Yes!”

Here’s why:

Conditions such as mental illness and aging contribute to mental decay.

All the more so if you’re already suffering from mental illness, not to mention the medicinal side effects of psychiatric medicine. These medicines, even when useful, can cause your memory a lot of harm.

Here’s the good news:

Losing control over your cognitive functions can be hard, but it doesn’t need to happen. There is a way to avoid cognitive decline, and all it involves is training your mind.

In this post, you’ll learn everything you need to know about brain training exercises to help keep your memory healthy.

 

All About Brain Training

 

Although many people believe that brain training is a modern invention, it actually has a rich history. To take one example, check out the brain training exercises admired by the Edwardians nearly 100 years ago.

In fact, mnemonic systems were all the rage in 19th century Great Britain. Famous author Mark Twain even had one called “The Memory Builder”.

Then there’s Pelmanism.

Like the brain exercise training favored by the Edwardians, Pelmanism is a product of Great Britain, and became very popular during the first half of the 20th century.

Get this:

More than 500,000 people reportedly used it, and one of them was the Prime Minister of the country himself!

Why was it so popular?

First, the system revolutionized brain training because it targeted the same mental functions we focus on optimizing to this day:

Attention
Concentration
Creativity

The Pelman Scientific Mind Training Program focused on each of these to help people exercise their minds. Participants were mailed monthly booklets with games and exercises designed specifically to stimulate one or more of these functions.

All of which goes to show that brain training isn’t new. And of course, Anthony is always coming up with different brain exercises you can explore. Check these out:

Even better:

We have even more scientific evidence than ever to guide us these days. Modern neuroscience has managed to prove beyond any shred of doubt that our brains are in fact malleable like plastic.

In fact, we all have to ability to modify the structure and functions of our brains.

Of course, a lot depends on the internal and external factors of our lives, such as other bodily processes or environmental changes. But overall, every single person can intervene and create a better mental life.

Sadly, though, cognitive decline is becoming increasingly common past the age of 30. One reason is that people don’t understand the difference between memory loss and forgetfulness.

Nevertheless, slowing down the aging of our brain through training is a prospect that fills us with hope. And research shows that it’s completely achievable.

However, if having a sharper memory is something you aim for, you need to know right now that it takes work.

In order to remain in a constant state of connectedness regardless of whether you’re 30, 50 or 80 years old, you need to push your mind to learn something new each day. There is nothing more stimulating for your synapses than being put at work.

In turn, this leads to tangible improvement in more than one aspect.

For example, according to Dr. Jee Hyun Kim of the Florey Institute, focus diminishes with age.

Due to this deterioration of focus, stimulating your attention regularly can be crucial. By activating the frontal cortex and the hippocampus, you are not working only on this function, but on your memory and thought as well.

 

How Brain Training Can Increase Focus And Attention

There are many ways to achieve better focus and attention. One possibility lies in a simple, yet intellectually stimulating mobile app.

Similarly, reading new books, especially with a re-reading strategy, or solving math and logic problems puts all the areas of your brain to work and boosts cognition in the process.

Then there’s meditation. You can do a walking meditation or sit just to sit Buddha-style for improved memory and concentration.

And recent studies that will be discussed shortly suggest that it might even help treat mental illness.

 

Treating Mental Illness With Brain Training Exercises

Let me give you some context:

I have spent the last couple of years researching alternative treatments for mental conditions that affect memory and cognition.

Why did I choose this path?

Well, three years ago, someone I care about deeply was diagnosed with schizophrenia. I have spent all my days since trying to educate myself on the topic as much as possible.

In my journey, I have found that many specialists believe that brain training can help prevent degenerative neural diseases such as dementia or Alzheimer’s.

And that’s not all. In fact, such practices can help with instances of mental illness as well. This comes as great news for the vast community of patients struggling with such afflictions.

Recent medical science-related endeavors back up this seemingly bold claim. A study conducted at McLean hospital in 2017 has uncovered the potentially beneficial results of brain training in the treatment of mental illness, namely bipolar disorder in particular.

The lead scientist was Eve Lewandowski, Ph.D., an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and developer of McLean’s bipolar disorder and schizophrenia programs.

According toLewandowski, BPD affects the memory, processing speed and executive function of most of the patients who suffer from it. This impacts their daily existence and overall quality of life quite negatively.

Therefore, working on improving cognitive dysfunctions is crucial for symptom relief in this case. And what better way to achieve that than through brain training? Lewandowski’s research found that the participants who used techniques pertaining to this area exhibited visible betterment that was maintained for at least six months afterward, if not more.

She got the idea after noticing how effective this approach was in keeping the symptoms of even more serious conditions such as schizophrenia under wraps.

People going through the four stages of schizophrenia have exhibited visible improvement in their symptoms after cognitive therapy.

In fact, previous trials conducted under the supervision of professor Barbara Sahakian of the Department of Psychiatry at Cambridge have shown that something as simple as playing brain-stimulating mobile games improves cognition among schizophrenia patients. And it helps in areas where drugs have previously failed, which is even more important to keep in mind.

Just imagine how beneficial the effects could be if this would be tried in the long run. Lewandowski and her colleagues support the importance of acknowledging brain training as a viable treatment for mental illness. Modern psychiatry should recognize its merits and integrate it into the roster of available therapies.

But until that happens, you can also try doing at home. To tap into the healing properties of this approach, you don’t need to download a mobile app or buy fancy books and puzzles to keep your mind sharp. There are plenty of mental techniques that you can try at home and see how they work out for you. Here are the best three.

 

The Best Brain Exercise Techniques

 

1. Memory Palace

If you’re looking to train your memory specifically, Anthony Metivier’s approach to the ‘Memory Palace’ technique is one of the best to get the job done.

Famous historical and fictional figures alike, such as Hannibal Lecter from the renowned Silence of the Lambs book and film series are perfect examples of how this works.

Association is the key to creating your own memory palace to walk around in whenever you need to retrieve certain pieces of information.

When these have been assimilated long ago, you need to correlate each of them with a specific part of a location. A good starting point is your own house because it is familiar territory. For best results, draw out the floorplan of your first Memory Palace by hand. Like this:

But before you start drawing, walk around your house first.

Then,  once your’e done, assign various memories to various rooms.

To take it one step further, do the same thing but using objects within the same space. Fill your memory palace with everything you think is worth remembering, but make sure that you build a strong mental route in the process.

When the time to remember he information comes, simply retrace your steps along that path. It will take some getting used to, and you will surely fumble at first. Nobody is born an expert, and when you’re dealing with cognition-impairing mental illness, it might be even harder. But practice makes perfect, and it keeps your mind sharp too.

Of course, things might not be as simple or straightforward. Sometimes, direct associations simply aren’t possible. This is where your imagination and the ability to create allegories comes in.

For example, let’s imagine you want to remember something that has to do with a dandelion, a hose, and a Calico cat.

You are standing in your living room and there is a dandelion on the table. You go up the stairs, towards your bedroom. A hose is hanging on the door.

You enter, and the most adorable Calico cat is sleeping on your bed, purring. You have now memorized this sequence by simply making associations between its elements and actual, palpable places in your house.

2. Mind Mapping

The concept of mind mapping is a slightly similar one, but it is far more schematic and two-dimensional. In fact, it consists of a visual outline that starts with one core concept and then branches out into information that relates to it.

Some people prefer to do this on paper because they find it stimulates their assimilation of the notions even better.

Such a diagram can represent anything, from words and concepts to more specialized information such as tasks that need accomplishing.

And if you’re not a fan of writing it all out, you’ll be happy to find out that it can be used in combination with the Memory Palace technique. The two have a very strong meeting point between them.

In fact, you can listen to Phil Chambers discuss using mind maps and Memory Palaces together.

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Chambers, a world mind mapping expert, mind maps serve even more complex purposes. A mind map follows all the principles of memory, but it also helps you think. But memory palaces are better for actually remembering information, while mind maps are more suitable for processing and understanding it.

The two are sometimes useless when not together. For this reason, finding a middle ground that includes mind maps into your memory palace can be a great way to stay sharp and on top of your game. Furthermore, together they stimulate more essential areas of the brain, thus preventing premature decay.

3. Dominic System

The Dominic mnemonic system is one of the most famous brain training techniques in the world. It was designed by famous British mnemonist Dominic O’Brien, who also happens to be an eight-time World Memory champion. Most brain athletes use it nowadays to memorize long strings of digits for competitions. So, why is it so effective?

Just like the Major system associates numbers with sounds, the Dominic system notoriously does a similar thing by assigning them the initials of a person’s name. It’s a highly effective person-action system that can be combined with the memory palace technique, thus creating the Hotel Dominic, as many experts lovingly call it.

But O’Brien’s contribution to the world of brain training doesn’t stop here. He also famously established that the strategical recalling of information following a five-step pattern is the best way to cement said information in your brain. This should happen in the following order:

• The first review takes place immediately;

• The second review follows it 24 hours later;

• The third review then happens one week later;

• One month later comes the fourth review;

• And finally, the fifth review occurs a total of three months later.

Thus, in the span of roughly four to five months, you will be able to remember anything.

By sticking to this routine, you will be able to fight the cognitive decay that many mental illnesses bring, too. When your schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are playing tricks on your mind, relying on a strict pattern to memorize relevant information can be a true lifesaver.

 

Final Thoughts

 

To sum up, it must be noted that medical science is just now starting to look more into the beneficial effects of brain training. Cognitive dysfunction can be caused by many things. These range from something as naturally occurring as old age to more complex issues such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Fortunately, practicing one or more of the three techniques discussed above can be beneficial. It is something that can help you refocus and even excel when it comes to memory and thought patterns. As a short recap, these are:

• The Memory Palace.

This famous approach is based on making associations between physical locations and various pieces of information. The best way to build the memory palace is by correlating them with specific spots around your home. The familiarity of the territory is prolific for this purpose.

• Mind mapping. It consists of a series of diagrams that represent two-dimensional connections between concepts. Creating mental maps works best when used in combination with the memory palace. This activates more areas of the brain than the two would alone, thus preventing decay and enhancing performance.

• The Dominic system. Focused on numbers, the Dominic system heavily relies on the connection between these and letters. These usually are the initials of someone’s name. When used together with the memory palace technique, it is known as the Hotel Dominic.

As it has been established, the three techniques are equally efficient standalone as they are when combined. In order to choose what suits your needs, you will need to try them. Presentations and explanations can only do so much.

Nevertheless, having this knowledge is essential for the future. If you or someone you love, as it happened in my case, are slipping down the slope of mental illness, take action now. Explore the possibilities given by brain training and build a better tomorrow.

About Alex Moore

Alex is a Psychology undergraduate who strives to discover the intricacies of the minds of the mentally ill, with the ultimate goal of helping them and those around them. When he’s not writing about the efficiency of memory improvement techniques, you’ll find him contributing to www.schizlife.com.

The post 3 Effective Brain Training Exercises for Mental Illness Sufferers appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Why Bilingualism Makes For a Healthier Brain

Are you a polyglot?

No, I don’t mean a ghost that walks around the attic making loud noises and moving objects. That’s a poltergeist!

A polyglot, on the other hand, is a more tame individual who is fluent in several languages.

Then there are the hyperpolyglots – those who actively learn and master six or more languages, like Emil Krebs, a 19th-century German diplomat who had mastered around 65 languages by the time of his death.

While only 1 percent of people are polyglots; more than half of the world’s population is bilingual (those who speak fluently in two languages).

Being bilingual (or multilingual) is said to enhance your better problem-solving abilities, and improve your concentration and focus.

These are valuable resources in everyone’s life! And reason enough to start learning a new language.

If you are geared to pick up a new language or just want to get better in your mother tongue, use these five amazing hacks:

And while you practice your German or French, ask yourself this:

 

Will Being Bilingual Help You Get a Healthier Brain?

 

Seriously:

There is a ton of research backing claims that being fluent in more than one language is good for your brain.

More importantly:

Unlike other areas of science and memory, few articles evoke grave doubts on the advantages of being bilingual.

That said…

A 2015 article in the New Yorker by Maria Konnikova “Is Bilingualism Really an Advantage?” makes an interesting point:

Konnikova says the bilingual advantage seems to have more of a protective effect on the aging brain than it does anything to enhance executive-control functions of healthy individuals.

While the Konnikova’s arguments are persuasive, I am sure of one thing:

When you learn a new language and use new words and grammar rules, multiple areas of your brain work together. This is a great long-term workout for your brain.

And since your brain is a muscle, it needs regular workouts to remain strong, supple and stable!

 

The Inside Story:

Why Bilingualism Is Not Just About

Speaking Two (Or More) Languages

 

Contrary to general perception, bilingualism is not just about the ability to speak two languages fluently.

There are a lot of little nitty-gritty aspects involved.

For instance:

You could be a “simultaneous bilingual” who learns two languages from birth.

Or, you could be an “early sequential bilingual.”

What the heck do those terms mean?

“Early sequential bilingual” is a fancy term for those kids who speak one language at home but learn to speak the community language at school. There is also the “late sequential bilingual” – someone who grew up with one language and then moved to a country that speaks another.

Why are these terms important?

The differences in how and when you learned your second language often leads to different levels of proficiency and fluency. This, in turn, affects your level of being bilingual.

For instance, if you were fluent in French (along with English) in high school but have been using only English ever since, your bilingualism and its related advantages may have deteriorated.

In fact, according to a study, simultaneous bilinguals and early sequential bilinguals show different levels of behavioral performance in a lexical representation task that measures how quickly you can classify a stimulus as words or nonwords. (Sebastián-Gallés, Echeverría & Bosch, 2005)

Remember this:

The more articulate you are in a language, and the more fluently you use both your languages in your daily life, the more bilingual you will be.

“You have to use both languages all the time. You won’t get the bilingual benefit from occasional use.” This quote is by the cognitive neuroscientist, Ellen Bialystok who has spent almost 40 years learning about how bilingualism sharpens the mind.

A recent study by Yeh-Zu Tzou shows how working memory is important but language proficiency in the native language (L1)  and second language (L2) assumes a more critical role in a person’s ability to process and store information simultaneously.

Another study shows bilingualism is not a categorical variable (that is you are either bilingual or not) but rather the “bilingual experience is composed of multiple related dimensions that will need to be considered in assessments of the consequences of bilingualism.”

 

The Trouble With Knowing Two Languages:

Each Fight For Supreme Control

 

As a bilingual, when you use one language, the other is also active at the same time.

This creates a persistent linguistic competition which can result in language difficulties.

For instance, bilinguals are known to be prone to the tip-of-the-tongue syndrome where you can remember specific details about a word but cannot conjure the word fully.

Some mnemonists and memory champions also term it as “ghosting.” I refer to it as “Magnetic fossilization.”

Either way, if you have ever been in a position where someone’s name is right on the tip of your tongue but you can’t get your brain to say it out loud, remember that the word is competition with some other information or similar sounding words in your brain.

But there is good news:

The bilingual brain relies on control mechanisms such as attention and inhibition, every time she or he speaks or listens to maintain the balance between the competing languages. Due to this constant practice, these control mechanisms are strengthened with changes occurring in the associated brain regions.

Could there be other benefits to this constant brain workout?

 

Bilingualism And Its Connection With a Better Brain

 

As I said earlier, being bilingual is a constant brain exercise.

Regularly juggling two languages gives the brain better abilities to filter out unnecessary information which helps in improved focus and attention.

Since bilinguals are used to switching between two languages, they are also excellent at switching between tasks, even if these tasks have nothing to do with language.

A study by Dr. Viorica Marian and her team proved that bilinguals are better at filtering out unnecessary words than people who speak only one language.

In the study, participants were asked to perform language comprehension tasks where they had to hear a word and then recognize its corresponding photo.

For example, volunteers would hear the word “candy” and then they would see four pictures, including a picture of candy and a picture of a similar-sounding word, such as “candle.” The experiment aimed to see how well the participants were able to recognize the correct word and ignore the similar-sounding competing word.

The results showed that bilinguals performed better than their monolingual counterparts at ignoring the competing words. This is because people who speak more than one language are already used to controlling two languages and suppressing irrelevant words they don’t need.

The ability to tune out irrelevant information is a strong indicator of mental abilities and can help bilingual individuals concentrate better by blocking outside noise in a busy classroom or office space.

Another advantage of speaking two languages – you have more efficient monitoring systems.

According to this 2009 study, when conditions required high monitoring demands, bilinguals were faster than monolinguals.

The most persistent advantage to being bilingual comes at a later stage though.

It seems that the aging brain of a bilingual person can resist the effects of dementia far better than those who speak only one language.

Research has also shown that multilingual people have a higher density of grey matter in their brains, and older people who speak more than one language tend to have better-maintained white matter.

But the big question remains:

 

Does Bilingualism Make A Healthy Brain Smarter?

 

The answer I am afraid is no!

No research (that I can find) proves bilingualism enhances executive intelligence, emotional intelligence or intelligence quotient.

 

A Simple Method For Maintaining a Superior Brain

(And Mastering Another Language)

 

The truth is …

Improving brain function and memory does connect with mastering a new language.

But the real gains come from eating a balanced diet, getting lots of hydration, maintaining an active lifestyle and sleeping for 7 hours every night.

Add consistent memory training to that healthy mix and you’re golden.

But if you leave aside the health benefits, the simple act of learning a new language in itself is a fun proposition.

It enables you to interact with interesting people and exposes you to new cultures and practices.

Any new challenge and novelty help to keep the brain active and vibrant. Like doing crosswords, for instance, stimulates the brain and makes for a fun workout…

So long as you don’t let them frustrate you!

 

 

And of course, being multilingual can be extremely useful when trying to impress a date.

But the coolest, most fun way to quickly master a new language while maintaining a superior brain is to build Memory Palaces the Magnetic Memory Method way.

One important reason why Memory Palace is effective and attractive to many users is that it reduces cognitive overwhelm or overload.

There’s more…

Creating Memory Palaces the Magnetic Memory Method way unlocks the power of your multiple intelligences plus autobiographical memory, episodic memory, semantic memory, procedural memory and other kinds of memory.

This incredible combination of intelligence and memory strengthening is very powerful because, combined with Recall Rehearsal, the holistic process lets you move information from short-term memory into long-term memory faster.

If you are keen on this memory training technique…

Click on the image below to get started:

 

When Words Don’t (And Won’t) Boost Your Brain…

 

Knowing many languages has the power to help you express yourself fluently. And language learning is tremendously useful when you are trying to improve memory, clarity, and focus.

With the Magnetic Memory Method, you gain the ability to not only remember information faster but also get predictable and reliable permanence. This grows in strength each time you create Memory Palaces using this method.

Ready to add this memory improvement method to the lexicon of your life? Let me know in the comments below or feel free to post your questions.

The post Why Bilingualism Makes For a Healthier Brain appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Can Stress Cause Memory Loss And Confusion?

Can stress cause memory loss and confusion?

Not if you’ve got a gun in your face.

Like Ben Thomas.

Ben was walking through an L.A. neighborhood when he was robbed at gunpoint.

Next day, when the detective asked him to identify the perpetrator, Ben was able to do it very easily.

Over time, however, the author who experienced this violent incident, reported that he “remembered fewer images and more facts: the colors of the thief’s hoodie and pants, the words he’d said, even the exact time displayed on my iPod (12:36) at the moment I’d handed it over to him”.

Why would Ben remember more facts than images?

It’s because some memories formed under highly stressful situations get so strongly encoded in our brains that we never forget them.

But does that mean you should put yourself under stress to memorize your sales presentation?

 

The Answer Is A Big NO!

 

Because, in general, stress impairs memory, makes you forget things or even remember things differently.

Ben, for instance, could recall the thief’s face vividly for a day or two but after a few weeks, he couldn’t picture the guy’s face at all.

And keep in mind that Ben’s no dummy.

He’s not only an author, but also someone who happens to be an independent researcher who studies consciousness and the brain.

High IQ or not…

When we’re stressed, some memories stick like super glue while others get warped or lost.

For that reason, please understand this:

It’s never a good idea to induce stress when trying to memorize a book, your lessons or your campaign presentation.

You never know what essential information your brain will skip remembering!

Instead, increase focus and concentration from the ground up using a WRAP technique:

 

When Are You Under Stress? A Scientific Definition  

 

This quote is worth reading twice:

“When an organism faces emotional distress or is physically challenged the autonomic nervous system, a subdivision of the sympathetic nervous system, is automatically activated. Once activated, a cascade of physiological changes occurs that better enables an organism to confront (i.e. fight, freeze) or escape (i.e. flee) danger. The term “stress” applies to the condition under which the autonomic nervous system is activated and stress hormones are released.” (Impairing and Enhancing Effects of Psychosocial Stress on Episodic Memory and Eyewitness Report, Siobhan Marie Hoscheidt, 2011)

And guess what?

When you’re frozen, or busy running away, learning gets really tough.

Worse, there’s a part of the brain that controls stress that can really wreak havoc on your focus and concentration.

When you undergo a stressful event, the amygdala – a part of the brain that enables emotional processing – sends a distress call to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is like a command center that communicates with the rest of your body through the nervous system so that you have the energy to fight or flee.

 

Stress Can Make You Forget Things…

Even If You’re a Memory Champion

 

Want in on a little secret?

Stress doesn’t discriminate between the regular Joe, a presidential candidate or a memory champ.

It does and will mess with your brain.

Like it did for world memory champion Jonas Von Essen.

When Jonas was called to recite the closing credits of Newsnight from memory, he as well as some other names.

If that doesn’t put the spotlights on just how bad stress can be for even the best memory athlete, I don’t know what does.

Even as a memory expert, Jonas felt on the spot and stress was part of his embarrassing flub on TV.

But is it really a fail?

The answer is a bit more complex, so let’s have a look.

 

How Does Stress Affect Your Memory: The Inside Story

 

When under stress, brain freeze like what Jonas encountered happens mostly because your thinking is preoccupied with the stress-inducing stimuli – am I looking cool on TV – blocking out other thoughts.

But that’s not the complete picture.

While low levels of anxiety can affect your ability to recall information; high-stress situations, like being robbed at gunpoint, increases your brain’s ability to encode and recall traumatic events.

A study by Marloes J. A. G. Henckens and team demonstrated how “acute stress is accompanied by a shift into a hypervigilant mode of sensory processing in combination with increased allocation of neural resources to noise reduction. This reduction of task-irrelevant ambient noise, in combination with a stress-hormone-induced optimal state for neural plasticity, may explain why stressful events attain a privileged position in memory”.

 

What Does This Stress Memory Loss

Chemical Connection Mean?

 

In simple words, when you are anxious, your brain will put you on red alert and increase your focus and concentration on that stressful event by eliminating any other distracting information. This can aid in encoding some information into your long-term memory better.

However, there’s more to this story.

Chronic stress, like constant worry about losing your job, can have devastating effects on memory.

Here’s another one of those quotes worth reading twice:

“The effects of stress on memory are not always facilitatory. Several studies have demonstrated that while memory for emotional information is enhanced when encoded under stress, memory for neutral information can be impaired (Payne et al., 2006; 2007).” (Impairing and Enhancing Effects of Psychosocial Stress on Episodic Memory and Eyewitness Report, Siobhan Marie Hoscheidt, 2011)

Here’s another:

“Schilling et al. examined the effect of varying levels cortisol (a common measure of stress) on recall performance. The results provide evidence that stress and memory performance have an inverted U-shaped relationship, where too much stress has a deleterious effect on memory performance.” (Psychosocial Stress Increases Activity-but not Event-Based Prospective Memory, Mollie McGuire, 2016)

What does all this mean?

Simple:

When under stress, your body activates a part of the adrenal gland that dumps cortisol – also known as the stress hormone – into the bloodstream.

 

The Truth About Memory, Stress And Cortisol

 

In the short term, cortisol may be beneficial (basically because it mobilizes white blood cells and enhances the immune system).

However, cortisol binds to cells in that area of the brain that converts new experiences into memory. This binding disrupts the memory-forming process, ultimately making memory impairment permanent.

Researchers at the University of Iowa also found a connection between cortisol and short-term memory loss in older rats.

Another study by Cheryl D.Conrad found that chronic stress reduces spatial memory: the memory that helps you recall locations and relate objects. “Chronic stress clearly impacts nearly every brain region.”

Precisely the reason you sometimes forget where you kept your car keys when you are about to rush to the office for an important (read stressful) meeting.

High stress also activates the release of adrenaline into the bloodstream. Adrenaline increases your attentiveness which is important to support your defense mechanism of “fight or flight” when put in a stressful situation.

However, adrenaline and memory do not mix well.

While the increased attentiveness may have a fleeting beneficial effect on memory; the anxiety and distress – that causes adrenaline production – is likely to lead to brain fog and forgetfulness.

 

A Non-Stressful, No Brainer Memory Booster

 

It’s actually counterproductive if you worry about not remembering important details.

The more you worry about losing your mind, the more your brain gets stressed and the more you forget!

In reality, your ability to remember is related to the level of concentration and focus you used when trying to memorize facts than anything else.

Focus and concentration are key to memory recall. They are necessary for creating complete memories without any added stress.

One way to improve your concentration and focus is through meditation.

This mental exercise which involves sitting comfortably, focusing on your breathing, and then bringing your mind’s attention to the present is also beneficial in calming the mind and reducing effects of stress and anxiety.

Another thing to remember is that a ton of stress comes from poor diet. Specific types of food can have beneficial –  or detrimental – effects on memory. Moreover, it is possible to change your diet to maintain, and achieve better levels of memory.

But if you want just one thing that is not only the ultimate stress reducer, but also an effective memory enhancer, build Memory Palaces the Magnetic Memory Method way.

This powerful memorization method was even adored by the ancient Greeks. I’ve added lots of additional tools, including relaxation techniques that enable you to get more from your memory – without the hassle of stress.

 

Why Use A Memory Palace?

Good question.

It boils down to this:

The Memory Palace is the best memory technique because as a foundational learning technique, it allows you to develop and use spatial memory in a way that unlocks the power of autobiographical memory, episodic memory, semantic memory and more.

This enables you to move information into long-term memory faster and with reliable permanence.

Building a Memory Palace is a simple technique. You start by associating information with specific areas of a familiar location.

Then you walk through that location (in your mind) and place pieces of information that you wish to memorize in specific areas. When you want to recall that information, you go through that mental path and access that information easily.

If you are interested in this memory method, click on the image below:

You can use more than just visual imagery to remember information through association!

Truly magnetic imagery involves a combination of these six Magnetic Modes:

Conceptual (Ideas)

Olfactory (Smell)

Gustatory (Taste)

Kinaesthetic (Touch)

Auditory (Sound)

Visual (Sight)

A quick memory tip:

If you are struggling to remember these Magnetic Modes, rearrange them to make the acronym COG KAV. Next, create the image of a giant machine in a cave. Simple? Now, you will never forget your Magnetic Modes. Here’s an infographic to help make this strategy clearer:

 

Lead A Balanced Life

 

Dealing with constant stress and worry is not a great way to lead your life. Neither is it a reliable memory enhancement strategy.

The good news is that leading a balanced life is simple.

It involves a good night’s sleep, nourishing diet, meditation, and an effective, dedicated memory strategy (like the Magnetic Memory Method).

Combined, these simple activities will enable you to create strong memories that you can enjoy without worry.

Now how does that sound?

 

The post Can Stress Cause Memory Loss And Confusion? appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Stoic Secrets For Using Memory Techniques With Language Learning

Stoic philosophy has helped thousands of people live better lives.

But can it help you use memory techniques to learn a language better?

Turns out…

The answer is a resounding Yes!

And to show you exactly how, Christopher Huff joins us on this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast.

Click play and you’ll learn:

* The secrets of rhythm you can use to help you remember words.

* How Christopher used the American presidents to better remember Chinese tones. (This approach is kind of like a hyper-focused PAO without a Major System supporting it.)

* How to memorize the prepositions in English in alphabetical order using a simple song.

* The powerful lesson Christopher learned from his first interaction with mnemonics.

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* Why Christopher places a cap on how many Magnetic Images he creates when using Anki.

* The biggest mistake Epicurus says you can make – and how it applies to memory techniques and language learning.

* The matter of jokes and telling lies in Toki Pona.

Regarding that cool language, make sure to subscribe to Christopher’s Language Fan YouTube channel and check out his language learning videos.

* Christopher also has an amazing video about the Goldlist Method, and in this interview he mentions the super-fascinating Leitner system.

* Christopher’s powerful definition of fluency, and how you can legitimately feel fluent even with a small pool of words and phrases.

* Why Christopher compares the use of mnemonics for language learning to skitching.

* The ultimate tool for developing fluency – something that we all have access to and yet too few people use!

* … and many more memory strategies of the world’s best language learners.

For more cool things from Christopher, please check out his Instagram – he draws cool comics and is constantly traveling all over the place.

And if you have questions or comments, please leave them below so we can get back to you.

In the meantime, if you haven’t already grabbed my FREE Memory Improvement Kit, here’s where to get it:

The post Stoic Secrets For Using Memory Techniques With Language Learning appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Aphantasia: Develop Your Memory Even If You Cannot See Mental Images

Aphantasia.

Sounds like a magic word a magician would say before conjuring a rabbit from his hat, doesn’t it?

But let me ask you this as you click play and listen to the audio version of this page:

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Can you visualize the magician pulling out the rabbit by his ears?

For most of us, it will be easy to recall images inside our head, using our mind’s eye.

However, if you could NOT see any image in your mind’s eye – no colors, no sounds, no smells, no textures, no flavors, nothing at all – you may have a condition called aphantasia or a blind mental eye.

Don’t freak out, though. Many people have aphantasia, even magicians.

Familiar with Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller fame)?

He is a famous magician and entertainer, and he is an aphantasic(!).

By his own admission, Penn says he cannot conjure a mental image of a person or a place to save his life.

 

What Exactly is Aphantasia? A Detailed Definition

The term ‘aphantasia’ comes from the Greek words a, meaning “without”, and phantasia, meaning “a capacity to form mental images”.

The phenomenon was first described by the controversial psychologist Francis Galton – one of the pioneers of eugenics – in 1880.

The interest in the phenomenon was renewed after the publication of a study conducted by a team led by Dr. Adam Zeman, a professor of cognitive and behavioral neurology, at the University of Exeter.

Zeman’s team published a paper in 2015 on what they termed “congenital aphantasia”, now known simply as aphantasia.

For Firefox co-creator Blake Ross it was a surprise revelation that other people could visualize things in the mind’s eye while he couldn’t. “I can’t ‘see’ my father’s face or a bouncing blue ball, my childhood bedroom or the run I went on ten minutes ago,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

According to Craig Venter, the biologist who created the first synthetic organism: “It’s like having a computer store the information, but you don’t have a screen attached to the computer.”

 

Is Aphantasia a Common Phenomena?

 

While research on the subject is still in its nascent stages, neurologists believe approximately one in 50 people or 2-5% of the population are non-visual-imagers.

Sounds like a big number?

Don’t be surprised. Being an aphantasic is nearly as common as having a food allergy.

Neuroimaging has shown that mental imagery, although strongly associated with the left temporal lobe, requires the use of large networks of brain pathways. This means that aphantasia could potentially occur in different ways in different individuals.

 

The Two Likely Causes Of Aphantasia

 

However, the exact cause of aphantasia is still unknown. According to Dr. Zeman heredity and environment both are likely to be relevant causes.

Interestingly, an aphantasic may have a visual memory which means they may be able to describe in detail about how things looked – the cat had blue eyes, the umbrella was pink and matched the skirt – even though they cannot see these very images in their mind’s eye.

Moreover, many people who cannot visualize in mental images can think in sounds, while others can remember physical sensations.

Penn says, when he dreams, he’s not sure if he sees images but has the sensation of knowing that “ideas wash over me”.

 

Want to Take The Aphantasia Test?

 

It is not possible to “see” what someone else is picturing inside their head unless they describe it to you.

So how do we check what your mind’s eye is seeing?

You can answer the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire, which is what psychologists use to rate different mental images of an individual, to test the strength of his mind’s eye.

Although you don’t get any results, you’re helping a good cause by completing the survey and the questions themselves will tell you a lot about your imaginary visual style.

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How Aphantasia Affects Memory

 

Our brain stores information in two different ways – verbally and visually.

Both these types of storage are independent of one another, and each can be used alone.

Therefore, even people with aphantasia can complete the “tests of visual imagery” without too much difficulty.

Here’s a quick test:

Count the number of windows in your house.

Quick #memory improvement exercise: Mentally count all the windows in your home.Click To Tweet

Even if you can’t see a “mental” image of your house and locate each window in that image, you would have an awareness of being there and recall from factual information the number of windows in your house.

While aphantasics can remember things from their past, they experience these memories in a different way than someone with strong imagery. They often describe memories as a conceptual list of things that occurred rather than a video playing in their mind.

As Ross says, he can ruminate on the “concept” of a beach, but cannot flash to beaches he has visited.

“I know there’s sand. I know there’s water. I know there’s a sun, maybe a lifeguard. I know facts about beaches. I know a beach when I see it, and I can do verbal gymnastics with the word itself…But I have no visual, audio, emotional or otherwise sensory experience.”

The brain has many unique ways of storing visual information than just as a picture.

 

Multiple Ways To Create Visual Imagery In Your Mind

 

Neuroscientists believe that the brain constructs visual imagery in more than one way. There are separate circuits for things like shape, size, color and spatial relationships, and when these are accessed together, we form an image of a memory.

They think that aphantasics piggyback on neurons involved in controlling physical movements rather than using the visual brain circuitry to “visualize” or recall information.

For instance, you can trace the letter B of the alphabet in your brain to know it has curves or you can use your mind’s eye to see its image.

 

Are There Any Aphantasia Benefits?

 

While the research is still out on this one, Penn says that because he thinks verbally and not visually, when he gets an idea, he can describe it instantly.

While aphantasics’ use of spatial memory is stronger in the absence of visual memory.

It gets better!

People with aphantasia have been seen to perform on par with people who can visualize images in many tasks involving visual information.

Moreover, a 2003 study stated the benefit of mental imagery is surprisingly small when it came to creative thinking.

Does Aphantasia Hamper The Memory Techniques

That Call For “Visualization”?

 

Not in the least.

Tansel Ali and I talked about your multiple options in a recent interview.

In sum:

Memory techniques involve more tools than just visualization. You have many options.

Memory techniques involve more tools than just visualization. You have many #mnemonic options.Click To Tweet

When you use a memory technique like the Memory Palace use all the Magnetic Modes, you can memorize a very large amount of information relatively quickly without necessarily seeing the Memory Palace in your mind.

Here’s an infographic that tells you all about the different ways that your brain perceives information:

Personally, I don’t have aphantasia.

However, I am low on the visual threshold.

Most of what I do involves thinking about strange combinations of images in words and sounds, not high-definition imagery. I would call this being audio-conceptual.

So, if you are worried that the inability to see images in your mind will stop you from using the Memory Palace technique.

Don’t be.

Over the years, I’ve invested in myself so that I can “see” something like visuals in my mind. But even to this day, the best results I get from memory techniques don’t require constant streaming of high-definition images in my head.

Here’s my discussion on this issue:

In any case, if you want to visualize bright, vivid pictures in your mind’s eye, you can try image streaming.

 

Image Streaming Vs. Aphantasia?

 

Image streaming is a simple process that enables you to open up your mind’s eye to visuals.

Here’s how it works:

Close your eyes and describe what you see.
If you don’t see anything (which would exactly be the case if you have aphantasia) help your brain start seeing images.
Start by gently rubbing your closed eyes like a sleepy child. Then describe the bright sparkly light that you see behind your closed retina.
Or look at a bright light like a candle for a half minute, or a window which has strong light/dark contrast. Then when you close your eyes, you should be able to see after-images, like a blob of light or color, at back of the eye. Describe that blob of light.
You can also describe a memory that you cannot “see” but remember from the past.
The important thing is to describe using all your sensory details – meaning use all your five senses of sight (vision), hearing (audition), taste (gustation), smell (olfaction), and touch (somatosensation) to describe your bob of light or memory.
While you are examining and describing your after-images or memory events, keep a look out for experiencing some other kinds of image. It could be a momentary face, landscape, or whatever. Notice when this happens, and switch to describing that new image.
Remember to describe all images to an external  focus – quickly and loudly. The external focus can be a friend or a dictaphone (voice recorder), anything or anyone you can talk to.
Practice image streaming for only 10-20 minutes a day to enable your mind’s eye to see pictures.


How to Use A Memory Palace With A Blind Mind’s Eye?

 

Associating pieces of information with a location you are familiar with, like your house, is the basic idea behind the Memory Palace Technique.

And it does not need you to visualize your house. You can “know” factually which room is where in your home or where is the window or door or the attic located.

Keeping the full range of your Magnetic Modes in mind, you can use any home or location with which you are familiar.

The effectiveness of the Memory Palace technique is based on the scientific fact that your brain and spatial memory perceive space as a kind of image.

Check out this lecture for more information about how that works:

If you’re interested in this “Magnetic” technique, click on the image below:

 

Memory Is More Than A Mental Picture Book

 

Memory is many things. It includes facts, figures and figments of information stored in various regions of your brain.

But more than that, memory is the ability to communicate these kinds of information to others and recognize them when they are being communicated to you.

When it comes to how you get information to play with in the first place, there are many ways. Some are faster than others.

Using an effective, dedicated memory strategy system like Magnetic Memory Method you can easily retrieve those memories faster and with predictable and reliable permanence.

Add to it a balanced diet, meditation, and sleep and you will be able to enhance your memory, concentration and focus in a way that improves your entire life.

Doesn’t that make a pretty picture?

The post Aphantasia: Develop Your Memory Even If You Cannot See Mental Images appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

3 Shocking Ways Smartphone Addiction Erodes Your Brain And Memory

Can smartphone addiction fry your brain cells?

Not literally, but that twitchy connection to your phone?

It definitely affects your abilities to concentrate and think deeply.

And that means device addiction harms your ability to remember.

Worse:

Smartphone addiction not only turns you into a social pariah…

 

It Can Also Be Fatal!

 

In 2015, distracted driving (due to texting or talking on the cellphone) killed 3,477 people and injured another 391,000.

And there’s more bad news…

According to the National Safety Council, using cell phones while driving can make you more accident prone than even drunk driving…

No wonder people are concerned over how cell phones are affecting their lives!

In January this year, two of Apple’s biggest shareholders wrote an open letter to the company requesting it to provide “more choices and tools” so that parents could restrict their children’s smartphone usage time.

The letter added that researchers have found this shocking statistic:

“U.S. teenagers who spend 3 hours a day or more on electronic devices are 35 percent more likely, and those who spend 5 hours or more are 71 percent more likely, to have a risk factor for suicide than those who spend less than 1 hour.”

Smartphone addiction is a serious issue and may need some creative problem solving using the C.R.E.A.T.E. formula:

But here’s the real question:

What about YOU?

Are you displaying cell phone addiction symptoms?

Let’s find out:

 

Are You A Nomophobic?

 

I know you will never admit it, but when you are unable to find your phone for even 30 seconds, it causes a minor anxiety attack.

How do I know this?

Because it happens to people every single second of the day.

Look at this poor fellow:

So, is he a nomophobic?

Absolutely!

Nomophobia or ‘NO MObile PHOne phoBIA’ is the fear of not being able to use your cell phone or have access to your device.

Want to know if you’re truly addicted? Take this online quiz to find out.

Nomophobia is real, but the medical community is not ready to declare overuse of cell phones as a clinical addiction.

 

Ignoring The Data?

 

They neglect to do so in the face of some shocking data.

As the Joker suggests (I misquote), “whatever doesn’t kill us, only makes us stranger”…

Nearly one in ten people admitted to using their smartphones during sex, in the shower, on a movie date, in church or other place of worship, as per the 2013 Mobile Consumer Habits.

What’s more, nearly three-quarters of the respondents said that they were always within five feet of their smartphones.

Although doctors do agree that if you can’t stop using your phone, even when it’s harming your life, you may be “addicted.”

“Only a small percentage of people qualify as addicted. But many people overuse their smartphones.”

This quote comes from Dr. David Greenfield, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut and founder of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction.

Smartphone addiction is not listed as an official mental disorder listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. However, psychologists are debating about whether that should change.

Some researchers also say that the development of smartphone addiction is similar to that of a gambling disorder (or gambling addiction), which is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

How does addiction work?

With gambling, the reward of winning once in a while is what hooks people to the habit.

Smartphone addiction works on a similar principle. Most of the time, a phone notification will be insignificant.

However, every once in a while…

 

Something Meaningful Happens!

 

Like a phone call from an old friend, or a Facebook notification that someone has tagged you in a photo. Researchers say this type of messages are irresistible and can lead to overuse or addiction to your device.

There’s more…

Device addiction can extend far beyond just the smartphone.

Recently, the World Health Organization announced that video game addiction will now be classified as an official mental health condition in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases.

According to the WHO, gaming disorder is “characterized by a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behavior  manifested by: 1) impaired control over gaming (e.g., onset, frequency, intensity, duration, termination, context); 2) increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities; and 3) continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.”

“The behavior pattern is of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning,” WHO adds.

Whether it is to play video games or check your Facebook notifications, here’s the truth:

Spending too much time with your smartphone will slowly but surely harm your mind.

 

How Smartphone Addiction Damages Your Memory

 

For starters, the presence of smartphone alerts is disrupting our already weak ability to focus on the task at hand.

Moreover, excessive use of cell phones also causes headaches, impaired concentration and memory, and fatigue.

If you are constantly using your mobile phone to surf the internet it affects the brain’s frontal lobe and brainstem functions, resulting in decreased ability to speak, reason and comprehend social cues.

Researchers also found that smartphone addiction can lead to an imbalance in brain chemistry that triggers depression and anxiety.

Ultimately, smartphone addiction can impair your ability to interact in the real world to the detriment of your personal and professional relationships.

 

It’s Not Just Brain Damage

 

Smartphone addiction does more than alter your brain chemicals. Your posture also gets affected when you use your phone all the time.

And according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, posture affects mood, behavior and memory.

Therefore, frequent slouching to look at your device screen can make you depressed.

What’s more, Researchers at the University of Michigan state that the tucking your chin (or chins) and hanging your head to look at the smartphone is also causing empathy levels to fall and narcissism to rise among individuals.

 

A Reliable, Easy & Fun Way To Learn Things

(Without Googling It On Your Smartphone)

 

We have all done it:

Reached for our smartphones the instant we want to verify a fact, learn a new bit of information, watch a video or read an ebook.

But there are other approaches.

One simple way to undo the damage done by mobile phone overuse is to switch off the phone and go back to a real book for information or entertainment.

Need more incentive?

Re-read of a book from the past. This way you’ll not only defeat Digital Amnesia, you’ll also enhance your attention as you give your brain the opportunity to revisit information from the past offline.

You can also Mind Map, and I’ve recently shared one of my own to demonstrate just how powerful this approach can be for memory, focus and concentration:

 

Digital Fasting…

The Cure For Smartphone Slavery?

 

But the ultimate technique is called “Digital Fasting.”

It’s easy:

Just leave your smartphone at home or sit in a cafe with no WiFi so that you are not distracted by your device and can dedicate mental space to the book at hand.

And if boredom strikes and you feel the need to sneak out your smartphone, use these 3 ridiculously boring ways to add focus and excitement to your life.

But no memory improvement training will work to the highest possible degree if its not linked to memorizing information that will immediately improve your life.

And to do that, you learning projects need to involve Memory Palaces (ideally by creating them the Magnetic Memory Method way).

 

Why On Earth Is That?

 

Because when you create Memory Palaces using the Magnetic Memory Method it lets you measure your memory improvement activities.

And tracking your outcomes leads to rapid improvement in the way information gets stored in your long term memory.

Even better:

All other memory techniques including playing crossword puzzles can be used inside of Memory Palaces.

But this never takes place the other way around (For example, you can’t use Memory Palaces inside of the Major Method the way you can use the Major Method inside of Memory Palaces.)

Building Memory Palaces is also great for dealing with a diminishing attention span.

Use the tips in this video about how to break through your attention span myths and limitation to help you craft the attention span you deserve.

If you are looking for a complete brain rehab try this method…

Click on the link below to get started:

Get  More Out Of Your Existence

 

You want to live a full, vibrant, exciting life?

You don’t want a zombie-like existence where a handheld device controls your emotions, moods, experiences and even what information your brain can or should store?

If “hell yeah” is your response then we are on the right track!

But don’t worry if you don’t have it all mapped out when trying to get rid of the smartphone addiction habit. You don’t have to.

You can create your own hacks for building better habits.

Better still, use the magic of Memory Palaces to unlock your brain’s true potential and lead the magnetic life you deserve.

Come on, say it loud (just not into your smartphone) – hell yeah!