Memory capacity is crucial for fulfilling learning and other cognitive tasks especially during one’s educational stage. Learning or remembering is an essential part of daily life. Educational psychologist have long been shifted their focus toward identifying principles of improving memory that can be applied to daily routines as well as for enhancing educational practices. Principles in improving memory stem from knowledge in cognitive neuroscience and knowledge from practical experiences. Listed here in this post are the major principles commonly recognized by cognitive psychologist.

• Attention – increase concentration

The importance of attention is described in this post “the role of attention for working memory”. Here is another post about “How to focus attention”

• develop interest and make learning experience enjoyable

It is common sense that when one is interested and enjoy doing something, he or she learns them faster and costs less energy. Do not force oneself to learn materials if he or she has no passion in it, especially when making career decisions.

• use association, creative imagination and use retrieval cues

Association is a basic property of memorization process. When we try to remember new information, our brain is able to identify and retrieve stored memory that has a linkage or is similar to the new information. The memorization process contain a stage known as “memory consolidation and reconsolidation” for processing info (create new memory and reconstruct them with existing memory) (see post “memory process”). Association also applies to the retrieval or recall stage of the memory process. In the presence of memory cues or retrieval cues (imagine it as the reminders or clues), it is always easier and faster to recall existing memory from the past experience. Always associate new information to prior knowledge to enhance learning efficiency.

• use image and visual aids

Our brain is really adapted to capture visual perceptions within seconds compared to what a camera can do. Some individuals are named as visual learners, they are well accustomed to grasp new information if they are visually presented and can be visualized in the mind.

• organization

Organization is the process of systemize the knowledge. When information are organized in a systematic way with internal logical connections, understanding and remembering becomes easy. Identify logical relationships in the learning materials and improve understanding.

• practice and use rehearsal techniques

Through repetition and rehearsal, information are better retained and more easily and accurately recalled. Specific information retrieval activates specific neurobiological-pathways. Both association and rehearsal techniques increase neuroplasticity or brain plasticity – a process that specific neurobiological pathways are activated with increased intensity. Practice also include the application of knowledge in real life and engage oneself in activities for what has been learned.

• multiple sensory and multiple formats

When learning materials are presented in multiple forms  and from multiple sensory perceptions (combinations of visual, auditory, olfactory and tactile inputs), the information is being reinforced multiple times and become easy to absorb and remember.

• use distributed practice

Distributed practice is learning that is spread out across relatively long periods of time rather than trying to be massed all at once. For example, trying to remember a huge list of new vocabulary in a week. This task can be spread over into several months.

• positive mental set

Positive mental set principle suggests that having confidence and will power in that the information can be memorized and things can get done – will increase the prospects of more efficient learning outcome

• keep the brain busy

Neurobiology has identified our brain as the most flexible and adaptable organ that contain billions of neurons. The more we use the brain, the more active and responsive our neuron will be. Although aging causes decline in the number of neurons and responsiveness of the neuron, however our memory capacity is essentially unaffected if one practice healthy aging techniques. Because it is believed that we only use 1% of our brain power for cognitive activities and it is believed that new neuron cell can be continuously created during normal aging process.

• exercise the brain physically and mentally

Physical exercise bring oxygen and nutrients to brain cells, refresh neurogenesis (a process new brain nerve cells are produced). Mental exercise such as meditation help reduce stresses.

• minimize interference and distraction

A less distractible environment help reduce irrelevant signal and facilitate attention control and filtering out non-important information. A quiet environment in the library generally increase learning efficiency