The Memory Palace Technique For Studying

Summary

This script delves into the Memory Palace technique, a powerful method for enhancing memory and studying efficiency. It emphasizes the importance of using the technique correctly to avoid wasting time, drawing on historical examples and the speaker's personal experience in obtaining a PhD. The video promises to teach the correct approach to mastering this ancient method, covering its origins, the integration of various mnemonic systems, and practical tips for effective learning and memory retention. The speaker encourages viewers to subscribe for more insights into this valuable skill.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The Memory Palace technique is most effective when used correctly and can be a powerful tool for memorization and studying, as demonstrated by the speaker's experience during their PhD.
• 📚 The technique has ancient origins and has been studied and refined over centuries, with early examples like Hugh of St Victor's method involving number systems for memorizing dates.
• 🧠 The Memory Palace technique is not a single method but a combination of at least five systems: the Memory Palace system, alphabetical associations, numerical associations, symbol associations, and spaced repetition.
• 🔑 The key to successful memorization is to make the Memory Palace and its associations as clear and distinct as possible, based on real memories and not invented details.
• 🎯 It's important to focus on memorizing only the key points that are most likely to be tested or are essential to understanding, using a process of assessment and summarization.
• 📉 The 'Romantic effect' suggests that less is often more; focusing on fewer key points can lead to better retention and understanding due to the connections formed in the mind.
• 🔢 The speaker introduces the concept of using the pages of books as mini Memory Palaces, leveraging a number system to associate each page with a distinct image.
• 🔄 Spaced repetition is crucial for reinforcing memories and should be combined with active recall techniques, such as moving through the Memory Palace in various patterns.
• 🛠 The 'CAVE COGS' formula (Kinesthetic, Auditory, Visual, Emotional, Conceptual, Olfactory, Gustatory, and Spatial) is recommended for creating multi-sensory associations to strengthen memory.
• 🔡 Training with the alphabet, numbers, and symbols is essential to quickly generate associations during memorization. This involves creating a mental index of people, objects, and images linked to each letter, number, or symbol.
• 🔄 Having multiple Memory Palaces, potentially one for each letter of the alphabet, can help manage information from various subjects and prevent overcrowding in a single Memory Palace.

Q & A

What is the Memory Palace technique and why is it considered a waste of time if not used correctly?

The Memory Palace technique, also known as the method of loci, is a mnemonic device that involves associating information with specific locations in a familiar environment to aid in memory retention. It is considered a waste of time if not used correctly because it requires a proper understanding of how to create and navigate these 'palaces' effectively to enhance memory, and many people do not teach or learn it in its full depth.

Why did ancient people develop the Memory Palace technique?

Ancient people developed the Memory Palace technique as a way to carry entire books in their minds when they couldn't physically carry them on their backs. It was a method to remember and recall large amounts of information effectively.

What is the significance of Hugh of St Victor in the history of the Memory Palace technique?

Hugh of St Victor is significant because his approach to the Memory Palace technique is one of the earliest examples where number systems were applied to memorize information such as historical dates, and he also introduced the idea of reusing memory palaces by adding layers of information.

How does the Memory Palace technique help with studying and exam preparation?

The Memory Palace technique helps with studying and exam preparation by placing information into long-term memory through active learning processes. This allows for reduced study time, stress-free exam preparation, and increased confidence in recalling information during tests.

What are the five systems that come together in the Memory Palace technique?

The five systems that come together in the Memory Palace technique are the Memory Palace system itself, alphabetical associations, numerical associations, symbol associations, and spaced repetition. These systems work in tandem to enhance memory retention.

Why is it important to use the Memory Palace technique for key points rather than trying to memorize everything?

Focusing on key points is important because it helps to prioritize the most critical information that is likely to be tested or used. This approach saves time and cognitive resources, and it leverages the 'romatic effect,' where focusing on fewer key points can help the brain make connections to the broader information.

What is the 'romatic effect' and how does it relate to the Memory Palace technique?

The 'romatic effect' is a principle that suggests 'less is more' in terms of memorization. By focusing on and memorizing key points, the brain can naturally make connections to the broader information, similar to how roots of plants can extend and connect without direct contact, forming a network of associations.

How can the pages of a book be used as mini Memory Palaces?

The pages of a book can be used as mini Memory Palaces by assigning a distinct image to each number, based on a number system like the major system. This allows each page to represent a station in a Memory Palace, where information on that page can be associated with the image for that page number.

What is the purpose of recall rehearsal in the Memory Palace technique?

Recall rehearsal is a method of active retrieval practice that strengthens memory by revisiting the information in a Memory Palace in various patterns, such as forward, backward, and skipping stations. This challenges the brain and helps to solidify the information in long-term memory.

Why is it recommended to have multiple Memory Palaces for different subjects or topics?

Having multiple Memory Palaces for different subjects or topics prevents overcrowding and allows for better organization of information. It also makes it easier to switch between subjects and reduces the cognitive load by having distinct locations for different sets of information.

What is the 'cave cogs' formula and how does it enhance the Memory Palace technique?

The 'cave cogs' formula is a method of elaborative coding that involves creating multi-sensory associations with each piece of information in a Memory Palace. It stands for Kinesthetic, Auditory, Visual, Emotional, and Conceptual associations, which help to deepen the memory trace and make the information more memorable.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Memory Palace Technique: Mastery for Academic Success

The speaker emphasizes the effectiveness of the Memory Palace technique when used correctly, as part of their PhD studies. They highlight the need to understand the ancient methods to maximize memory retention. The audience is encouraged to subscribe for more insights on this powerful memory enhancement method, which can lead to excellent academic performance. The origin of the Memory Palace technique is discussed, with a nod to Lynn Kelly's research, and the importance of applying the method correctly is underscored. Historical figures like Hugh of St Victor are mentioned for their contributions to the technique, particularly in using number systems for memorization.

05:01

🏛️ Building the Memory Palace: Techniques and Systems

This paragraph delves into the Memory Palace technique as a compilation of five interrelated systems: the Memory Palace itself, alphabetical associations, numerical associations, symbol associations, and spaced repetition. The speaker stresses the importance of seamless integration of these systems for maximum memory retention. They clarify that mental imagery is key and does not necessarily require visualization. The paragraph concludes with advice on making Memory Palaces as realistic and memorable as possible to facilitate long-term memory access without constant reliance on the technique.

10:01

🔍 Refining the Memory Palace Technique: Focus on Key Information

The speaker discusses the importance of using the Memory Palace technique to memorize only the most critical information. They describe a process of information extraction and assessment, using cards to identify key points worth memorizing. This process not only helps in memorization but also in understanding the value of each point. The concept of the 'romatic effect' is introduced, suggesting that focusing on fewer key points can lead to better connections and retention of related information.

15:03

📖 Advanced Memory Techniques: Books as Memory Palaces

The paragraph introduces an advanced memory technique where pages of a book can serve as mini Memory Palaces, each associated with a number system. The speaker provides an example of using this method with a specific book, illustrating how to link information on different pages with distinct images and associations. They also discuss the limitations of this technique, particularly for exam preparation, and suggest using more traditional Memory Palaces for better recall rehearsal.

20:05

🔗 Linking Information in Memory Palaces: The Art of Association

The speaker explains how to combine information with associations within Memory Palaces, emphasizing the importance of clear and distinct locations. They use a personal example to demonstrate how to create vivid and logical associations with the word 'enantio' and how to avoid vague or weak images. The paragraph also touches on the cave cogs formula for refining associations with kinesthetic, auditory, visual, emotional, and conceptual elements.

25:06

🎓 Training the Brain for Memory Mastery

The speaker provides guidance on training the brain to quickly create associations using the alphabet, suggesting the use of cards to practice associating letters with people, objects, and numbers. They share personal examples and encourage training on every card to develop sharp associations based on existing memory. The importance of practicing with real-world references and familiar characters is highlighted to streamline the memorization process.

30:07

🤹‍♂️ Juggling Multiple Subjects with Memory Palaces

This paragraph addresses how to apply the Memory Palace technique to multiple subjects, recommending the creation of multiple Memory Palaces, ideally one for each letter of the alphabet. The speaker discusses the use of number systems for memorizing dates and the importance of not overcomplicating the process. They emphasize the need for pre-established systems to handle various types of information, such as words, numbers, letters, and symbols.

35:07

🔄 Recall Rehearsal: Strengthening Memory Through Retrieval

The speaker introduces recall rehearsal as a core component of the Memory Palace technique, explaining its role in space repetition and the strengthening of memory. They describe various recall patterns, such as moving forward, backward, and from the middle of the Memory Palace, to challenge oneself and enhance memory formation. The importance of making and learning from mistakes during this process is also highlighted.

40:08

🧘‍♂️ Advanced Memory Techniques: Compounding and Context Dependence

The paragraph discusses advanced techniques such as compounding memories and the principle of context dependence in memory retrieval. The speaker advises against the need to extend individual Memory Palaces, suggesting instead the creation of multiple palaces to avoid overcrowding. They also share personal strategies for cleaning out Memory Palaces and the importance of finding a style that works for the individual, emphasizing the need to explore and stick with one method long enough to truly understand it.

45:08

🌟 Mastering Memory Techniques for Exam Success

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of mastering the fundamentals of memory techniques to achieve minimal effort and maximum results in studying. They suggest using the actual exam room as a Memory Palace when possible for context-dependent memory enhancement and recommend using the surrounding campus area as an alternative. The paragraph encourages viewers to explore the Magnetic Method for further insights and resources on creating effective memory palaces.

Keywords

💡Memory Palace technique

The Memory Palace technique, also known as the method of loci, is a mnemonic device that involves associating information with specific locations within a familiar environment. In the video, it is presented as an efficient way to enhance memory and study effectively, with the emphasis on using it correctly to achieve maximum results. The script discusses the importance of using this technique not just as a memorization tool, but as a means to place information into long-term memory through active learning processes.

💡Active learning

Active learning refers to the process where learners engage in activities that require their active participation in the learning process, such as elaboration, organization, and reflection. In the context of the video, active learning is facilitated by the Memory Palace technique, which involves creating associations and visualizing information in a spatial context, thereby aiding in the transfer of information to long-term memory.

💡Long-term memory

Long-term memory is the ability to store, retain, and later retrieve information over a long period. The video emphasizes the importance of placing information into long-term memory as the ultimate goal of using the Memory Palace technique. It suggests that once information is stored in long-term memory, it can be accessed without the need to revisit the Memory Palace, allowing for fluid recall during tests or language learning.

💡Spaced repetition

Spaced repetition is a learning technique that involves revisiting and reviewing information at increasing intervals over time, which helps to move the information into long-term memory. The video mentions space repetition as a system that combines beautifully within the Memory Palace technique, leading to maximum memory retention. It suggests using the Memory Palace to apply equal doses of practice and recency effects to each piece of information.

💡Mnemonics

Mnemonics are memory aids or techniques that help in improving the ability to remember information. In the video, mnemonics are discussed as integral to the Memory Palace technique, with various systems like alphabetical associations, numerical associations, and symbol associations being used to create vivid and memorable images that facilitate recall.

💡Encoding

Encoding in the context of memory refers to the process of converting information into a form that can be stored in memory. The video script mentions encoding as a crucial step in the Memory Palace technique, where information is transformed into mental images or associations that are easier to remember and later retrieve from memory.

💡Recall rehearsal

Recall rehearsal is a method of practicing the retrieval of information from memory to strengthen the memory trace. The video suggests using recall rehearsal with the Memory Palace technique to solidify the information in long-term memory. It involves moving through the Memory Palace in various patterns to challenge oneself and reinforce the memory.

💡Context-dependent memory

Context-dependent memory is a phenomenon where memories are more easily recalled when the individual is in the same context or state as when the memory was formed. The video recommends using the actual exam room or the surrounding area as a Memory Palace to take advantage of this principle, which can provide an extra boost to memory retrieval during exams.

💡Cognitive load

Cognitive load refers to the amount of mental effort being used in working memory during the processing of information. The video warns against creating unnecessarily complex Memory Palaces that could increase cognitive load, advocating for simplicity and clarity in the initial setup of Memory Palaces to ensure that cognitive resources can be focused on forming associations rather than visualizing the palace itself.

💡Elaborative coding

Elaborative coding is a memory process where information is connected to existing knowledge in a meaningful way, making it easier to remember. In the video, elaborative coding is discussed as a step in the Memory Palace technique where information is linked with vivid and multi-sensory images in the Memory Palace, which aids in the encoding process and strengthens memory.

💡Serial positioning effect

The serial positioning effect is a phenomenon in which items in a series are more easily remembered when they are at the beginning or end of the series, with items in the middle being less memorable. The video script mentions using this effect in the context of recall rehearsal within the Memory Palace technique, suggesting that revisiting information in a pattern that includes starting, ending, and middle positions can enhance memory retention.

Highlights

The Memory Palace technique can be highly effective when used correctly, but many people do not teach it in its complete form.

Ancient people could carry entire books in their minds, and understanding their methods can enhance the Memory Palace technique.

Lynn Kelly's research on the origins of the Memory Palace technique is insightful but speculative due to limited historical evidence.

Hugh of St Victor's approach to the Memory Palace technique is one of the earliest examples of applying number systems to memorize information.

The Memory Palace technique helps place information into long-term memory through active learning processes, reducing exam stress.

The technique is not just one method, but a combination of at least five different systems working together.

Mental imagery and associations are key components of the Memory Palace technique, and they don't have to be visual.

The Memory Palace technique should be used for the most critical information to create a 'romantic effect' that connects related concepts.

Using pages of books as mini Memory Palaces can be an advanced method for memorizing information.

Clear and distinct locations within Memory Palaces are crucial for effective memory retention.

The Memory Palace technique should be based on real memories and not on invented or imaginary elements.

Training with the alphabet, numbers, and symbols can enhance the ability to create quick and effective associations.

The CAVE COGS formula (Kinesthetic, Auditory, Visual, Emotion, Concept) can refine memory associations and improve recall.

Having multiple Memory Palaces for different subjects can prevent overcrowding and facilitate efficient memorization.

Recall rehearsal is a core practice for strengthening memory and transferring information to long-term memory.

Context dependence or state-dependent memory can be leveraged by using the exam room or surrounding area as a Memory Palace.

Mastering the fundamentals of the Memory Palace technique is essential before exploring more advanced methods or variations.

Transcripts

The Memory Palace technique for studying

is an absolute waste of

time unless you're going to use it

correctly and there's a correct way to

do it for sure and unfortunately a lot

of people do not teach it in its full

Glory the way that I used it as part of

getting my PhD and I had to spend hours

and hours and hours of time figuring out

how was it that the ancient people

carried entire books in their minds when

they couldn't carry them on their backs

and part of the reason why that isn't

taught correctly is simply because a lot

of other people haven't read the ancient

books that I found to work it all out so

if you want to stop wasting your time

and get maximum results with minimal

effort get subscribed hit that Thumbs Up

For the Love of memory and to help me

train the robots to remember that humans

care about the great memory tradition

and and the truth about what the Memory

Palace technique is and how to use it so

you can get A+ all the way

[Music]

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down now we got to talk a little bit

about the origin of the method and no

one knows exactly when the Memory Palace

technique first arrived on the scene but

lots of people sure like to argue about

it now there's good research that's been

done by Lynn Kelly on prehistoric and

some of the early historic origins of

the Memory Palace technique in the

memory code and in Memory Craft but I

think she'll be the first one to tell

you that a lot of her ideas are

speculative we just don't know exactly

how ancient people around the world came

up with the concept but we do know know

a lot about how they used it and we know

that since time in Memorial teachers

have said no no no no no no no no don't

use it that way use it this way because

there are particular ways of using it

but there are also lots of people who

like to spread the general idea without

the completeness of the idea so when it

comes to using the Memory Palace

technique for studying in a way that

basically is going to help you deal with

the the current school systems or if

you're going to do it so that you can

pass certification exams for work and so

forth the earliest place to look if you

want to get into the history I believe

is a person named Hugh of St Victor so

his approach to the Memory Palace

technique is one of the first examples

where you'll see number systems applied

to memorizing historical dates for

example now you might not have to

memorize historical dates but it's

information encoded in numbers and you

can see him also using the idea of

reusing memory palaces so you would take

one Memory Palace memorize a layer of

information in it and then add another

layer of information one of the places

that you can learn about Hue of St

Victor is the medieval craft of memory

really excellent book there's a lot to

study about Hugh St Victor in particular

and I have a whole video about his

imaginary Memory Palace technique which

is essentially using Noah's Arc and then

reusing Noah's Arc or different versions

for versions of Noah's Arc in any case

you can spend your entire life studying

the history of the Memory Palace

technique and the more the merrier if

you ask me I just love when people find

new things that I haven't seen before

there is a wealth of information that

hasn't been translated into English yet

and so by all means get into it now the

benefit of using the Memory Palace

technique correctly in the way we're

going to talk about today is really

super easy to summarize so if you've

ever had any doubts like why am I

bothering to learn this at all let alone

learning it correctly which you should

is that it is a way of helping you place

information in your long-term memory

through a variety of active learning

processes that's what helps you pass

exams without stress and makes it that

you can minimize the amount of time that

you have to spend on using the technique

and then you get to enjoy enjoy this

feeling of confidence every time that

you study and then later when you sit

for your tests or if you're learning a

language you're able to just use new

vocabulary and phrases Etc relatively

fluidly there's more to it because you

actually do have to read write and speak

and listen to a language in order to get

that sort of fluidity but nonetheless

you have this onramp that allows you to

access information from your long-term

memory without having to go to the

Memory Palace so all that side let's

understand what the Memory Palace

technique is it's actually not just one

technique it's at least five techniques

coming together and the trick the secret

if you will is to make all of those

things come together as one seamless

move and they'll never be perfectly

seamless but you can get it quite close

to seamless think about the old Abraham

Lincoln thing you know give me six hours

to chop down some trees and I'll spend

the first four sharpening my axe then

take that further so we're going to talk

about sharpening your axe but then the

actual move of chopping down a tree

isn't just one move it's several moves

your eyes have to have coordination with

your hands in order to make the axe fall

in just the right way you have to have a

sense of saving your energy so that you

actually make every strike of that axe

have maximum velocity to reduce the

amount of times that you have to hit the

tree in order to make it fall over Etc

so it's it it's quite a nuanced thing

but not super nuanced to the point that

it's impossible it's just that you've

got to find The Knack of it and then

work on it and actually get out and and

chop some trees you know in order to

figure out how you're going to use the

sharpness of your axe to maximize the

results with minimal effort and those

come together with the five systems so

the Memory Palace system is one of them

then you have alphabetical associations

numerical associations symbol

associations and space repetition itself

which is a system and all of this

combines and blends beautifully within

the Memory Palace technique and it leads

to maximum memory retention now alphabet

systems number systems symbol systems

two words mental imagery what you do in

your mind is your imagination so a

mental image or Association doesn't have

to be seen this is one of the biggest

keys to getting The Memory Palace

technique to work flawlessly you don't

have to see memory palaces you don't

have to see any of your associations

that you use in memory palaces you just

have to figure this out because it's

knacky it's going to be a little

different in your mind you got to lean

into it and you got to get away from

this Sherlock Holmes mythology you don't

say I must go to my mind Palace you just

have the information that's why we use

the Memory Palace technique for studying

so that we just have the information so

we need to use these five systems so

that the information enters your

long-term memory and then you can access

it without having to think about the

Memory Palace technique at all in a way

these five systems when they work

together are like the training wheels

that you would have on a bike as soon as

you're done training your mind with the

individual sets of information those

training wheels or the pneumonics

including the Memory Palace itself just

Falls away All That Remains is the

target information when you need it and

that is such a glorious and beautiful

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thing I have so many thousands of

drawings from students who have sent me

their memory palaces and thanked me why

didn't somebody tell me to do this

before it is so critical because if you

don't allow yourself to PL and the

Memory Palace you wind up building it as

you go and that's trying to do two

things at once you want to establish

clear and distinctive locations within

each and every Memory Palace the key is

making sure that the Memory Palace is

clear to you and that it is clearly

based on what you remember don't invent

things don't get caught up in well this

couch might move in the future or this

couch has been in different different

places in the past if that is going to

be in your mind at all just don't use

the couch and don't think yet about

having pretend couches or imaginary

bookcases stunts like that can be useful

and they can come later but what we want

to do in the beginning is make it as

based on memory as possible 100% based

on memory so that you can not have to

worry about visualizing it many people

they start with this their memory is too

rusty to worry about visualizing you

just want corners and walls if that's

what it takes or you just want to use

the center of a room to add

anything things like flying off of

balconies passing ghostlike through

walls anything that you don't do in

reality is giving yourself something to

remember that's called a memorized

Palace and it places cognitive load on

the tool when the whole point of a true

Memory Palace is to maximize the power

of using distinctive locations exactly

the way you remember them without having

to elaborate anything rest assured

there's plenty of opportunity to

elaborate things when you're using your

alphabet system your number system your

symbol system and we're going to discuss

that in a minute but get this most

important points of all of them if

you're worried about couches moving

around you're adding unnecessary

thinking if you're thinking about well I

could pass like a ghost through this

wall you're giving yourself unnecessary

thinking because you're going to have to

remember that detail you want a clear en

cpse Journey you want to start at a

location and move in a linear fashion

through your mind whether you see it or

not and you don't have to see it cuz you

can just draw it you're going to move

from Station to Station to Station based

on your memory that's a true Memory

Palace and anything that has to be

memorized about it is gone because

that's not the art of memory so once you

do this with a couple memory palaces and

you use them and you fill them you'll go

oh yes that's why he's so insistent

about this right and yes later you can

do all kinds of fancy stuff and you can

use memory pales that are memorized in

all kinds of different ways there's

endless ways to play around with this

but if you're studying you don't want to

take the risk of having fiddly little

nudely memory palaces that are not

optimized based on this simple principle

now the next thing that's really

important here to make sure that the

Memory Palace technique for studying is

worth your time is to make sure you're

using it for the actual information that

matters and so I'll share with you how

I've used this technique and I've always

studied with wild abandon I've tried to

extract as much information as I

possibly could within certain limits

training my mind to understand what is

actual information that's worth

memorizing and what you kind of have to

do

is make a assessment on the fly so what

I love to do is extract information onto

cards I'm reading a book and I'll make a

little mental note I'll say this book

looks like it's got 10 chapters probably

there's going to be 10 points let's say

in each chapter maybe three depends on

what the book looks like and I will

limit myself to a certain amount of

points and when I find a point that I

don't know I don't recognize it I don't

know it before I do any memorizing I

will extract that information onto cards

now that's phase one no memory palaces

are in play at all phase two is to go

through the cards and then check does

this really need to be memorized does

this need to be memorized what about

this and I will throw cards away or

place them in a different area because

if it doesn't need to be memorized why

memorize it why use the Memory Palace

space for information that hasn't passed

the test now the key with this to

understand this is that this process of

weeding through notes that have been

taken is itself part of forming memories

right and it is about summarization it's

about annotation and it's about

assessing the validity and the value of

key points and calling them out this

will itself form memories and it will

help you understand ah this key point I

need to memorize it and then you

memorize only those things that are the

key points knowing that you're forming

memories throughout that entire process

now there's a principle that I call the

romatic effect and it basically is a

less is more approach and less usually

is more so let's say that you started

with 30 cards from a book and you've

winnowed it down to 10 things that you

need to memorize those 10 things that

you memorize they're probably going to

connect to the other things that you've

weeded out simply because you focused on

the 10 but you read the entire book and

so your mind is going to be able to send

out tendrils like ra romes send out

little tend

to connect and they may be connections

that are like non-coupling magnets so I

don't know if you've ever seen these

trains that they don't actually attach

to each other physically but they attach

to each other magnetically the

individual cars between the trains in

any case the whole point is is that

things can connect without being

connected and that's what this whole

windwing approach is all about the

culling approach going through cards and

then selecting what you're going to

memorize

so what you're going to do is once you

have identified the information where

the stakes are high these are terms you

don't know these are words that you need

to memorize these are phrases that you

need to memorize names of figures

historical dates Etc then you're going

to use your memory palaces for that

stuff not everything but the most likely

to be tested information and the most

likely to create this romatic effect

that draws things together there's

another little thing that I'll mention

here that has to do with using the pages

of books as memory palaces un themselves

or mini memory palaces so how that works

is that you're going to have your number

system built out that you can watch in

the POA system video to learn what that

is but basically what it is is you're

going to have an image for every number

and so when you have a page you can turn

any page into a mini Memory Palace based

on your image for each number and so the

book in effect becomes a kind of Memory

Palace unto itself where instead of the

wall being a station in a Memory Palace

and then the corner being a station in

the Memory Palace and a couch and a

fridge and a chair and all that sort of

stuff each page is the equivalent of a

wall in a corner and you distinguish it

in your mind because page 99 is an image

for you my 99 is the pope not the Pope

in Rome the singer from Ghost the point

is that 99 is very very distinct and

then whatever information is on that

page I will then elaborate it and link

it together with the ghost so there's

lots and lots of examples I can give for

this page 79 in a Eugene ther book well

actually page 71 to 79 talks about the I

think it's the 19th sermon from Meister

eart where he's quoting acts 98 which is

something like Saul rose up from the

ground and saw nothing and then he talks

about the four kinds of nothing and the

way that the this is not in a Memory

Palace and it never was except for the

book has a Memory Palace is that that

passage starts on page 71 it ends at

page 79 there's an image for 71 and

there's an image for 79 the image for 71

seven is a k one is a t or d so I make

the word cat and there's a specific cat

and then seven is a k nine is a p so I

have capped in crunch because cap is the

sound for this so now there's this range

and then the cat who is the Cheshire Cat

is then linked with Captain Crunch and

linked with the images for the 19th

sermon of Meister eart the numbers for

acts 98 the whole idea of there being

four kinds of nothing for symbolized by

a sailboat and on and on and on so this

is a little bit more intermediate and

advanced but it's still the Memory

Palace technique looked at in a

different way because each and every

station is clear and distinct in My Mind

by virtue of each number having an image

in the same way that every corner in a

room has an image the corner itself

every wall has an image now if I'm

studying for an exam I'm probably not

going to use that technique I'm probably

going to use the standard Memory Palace

technique because it's much more

effective and efficient and it reduces

the feeling of being overwhelmed because

a corner has space between itself and

the wall and then that allows for a

broader painting so to speak with the

mental imagery and it allows for more

spaced repetition to work with space

between the stations now the ancient

memory technique books talk about this

they always talk about having your

stations in your memory palaces have

some breathing room right and you don't

get that with the page technique if you

have something on 98 and on page 99

there's no breathing room between those

two pages and it is a little bit of an

issue and a problem but that's why I

only use it for my reading when I'm not

having an exam I'm studying so to speak

but I'm not under the pressure of having

an exam so if I lose little details here

and there no pressure no worries so for

a for a proper Memory Palace for

studying if I have an exam I'm just

simply not going to use the book as a

Memory Palace I'm going to have a proper

room a house a home a church a cafe Etc

in order to give myself more space for

the recall rehearsal and really recall

rehearsal requires a bit of mental

dexterity and I don't want fiddling

around I don't want to have to worry

about distinctions between page 98 and

99 no matter how clear they are at the

level of the the the different images

because it still doesn't have that

spatial room in which to do station

skipping in recall rehearsal which we'll

talk about later before we get to recall

rehearsal though and space repetition

systems and using the Memory Palace in

that systematic way we got to think

about the way you use a Memory Palace to

combine information with associations to

link those individual spaces through

Association Now Memory scientists call

this step elaborative in coding and this

is why you want your memory palaces to

be as clear and distinct as possible

because if you have to Fiddle in your

mind with the Memory Palace technique

then you're not going to have enough

enough cognitive space to work on

elaborating and associating your images

with that space so think about each

station as just needing to be what it is

when you go to your fridge in your home

right you don't want to have to have all

kinds of issues with it you just want to

go to the fridge because you know

clearly where it is and then if you want

to take a fridge magnet you want to

stick that magnet on the fridge to hold

concert tickets in place or something

like that so if you want to to memorize

a word like I wanted to memorize a very

simple example recently

enantio right I want to memorize this

word so I'm going to go to my brother's

place right and I'm going to use his

living room in this particular case and

anoia and I'm going to imagine Ant-Man

watching video Drome in his living room

there's a bit more to the image than

that but the core technique was executed

by paying attention to the alphabetical

construction of the word the

relationship to my brother which is also

alphabetical and then placing it in a

place that is clear and distinct in my

mind where I don't have to think about

the place at all I just have to have the

alphabetical Association and then I put

Ant-Man in that place watching video

Drome so the N has to do with my brother

the enantio antio has to do with Ant-Man

the Ria has to do with video drum

they're paired with the living room and

the success of pairing them together so

quickly has to do with the memory Pals

just being a non-issue it's worked out

in advance I know where I'm going to go

I know what the next word will be if I

want to add one in the Memory Palace or

the next phrase or whatever the

information is it could be a symbol from

math and so on and so forth all that

stuff has to be super clear if you're

going to use the Memory Palace technique

for studying efficiently because then

when you come across hard words like an

antio you want to just be very quick in

putting those associations there and you

want to have memorable pneumonic images

not vague weak things where you have to

go oh what was that image there no no no

no no you don't want any of that stuff

right you want Vivid images and this is

where it's really important to

understand that the images are not about

images

[Music]

[Music]

what is really about is using logic upon

logic using the Memory Palace as a

logical sequence of stations throughout

a space a journey to link highly

multi-sensory images that are already in

your memory so my brother's already in

my memory Ant-Man is already in my

memory and video Drome is already in my

memory and I'm just linking these things

together with the sound and the meaning

of an

antio Right This is So Glorious when you

start to get this when you start to

practice it on this basis it's very very

important because you don't want to

invent stuff you don't want to have to

create images I get messages all the

time I'm struggling to create images

whoever taught you to create images in

the first place I don't know oh why that

that people talk about it that way

that's not the art of memory the art of

memory is to use memory to use memory

palaces that are based on memory to use

images that are based on memory and to

combine the two logically first and

foremost then you add different forms of

elaboration where images might be

involved now to refine everything to the

nth degree I prefer what I call the cave

cogs formula so rather than

bus around with all this stuff to

elaborate it I simply follow that

formula so rather than seeing Ant-Man as

such I first get a kinesthetic feeling

that's the K in cave cogs so what might

that feeling be well depends on what

what's going on what is the meaning of

the word so I will try to feel Ant-Man

you know somehow being overwhelmed by a

force and then responding to that force

in a particular way physically because

that relates the meaning of this word

then I'll hear an auditory sensation in

my mind's ear then maybe I'll have some

visual in this case I didn't really have

any visual because it's just not

necessary so I don't always have kav

kinesthetic auditory visual but I do

have an emotion and that emotion is also

felt but it's not felt physically in

ant-man's body it's felt in his emotion

so Ant-Man is played you know by a

particular actor and so uh is it Paul

red who plays you don't even have to

remember who it is that plays the

character as long as you can get that

sensation in your mind of what his way

of feeling emotional would be relative

to the sound and the meaning of the word

then there's conceptual which is the sea

in cave cogs and that can be a hard one

for people to understand but basically I

just want to think a little bit what's

the genre here what's going on so video

Drome is kind of like a body horror

movie and an man is a Marvel picture I

believe and so these ideas are going to

be touched upon and then I'm going to

try to relate them logically to the

meaning of an antio theia then we have

old factory gustatory and spatial and

that's can get a little smell and a

taste in there and then think about the

sizes of things in relationship to each

other so literally feeling what it would

be like to watch a movie in the body of

Ant-Man creates all of these multi-

sensory

associations it is so important and you

can train yourself to do this very very

quickly and all the more so because

you're basing your images on things that

you've seen in the real world now I know

you may not have seen video drum I know

you may not have seen Ant-Man but this

is this is the art of memory is for you

to practice using what you have seen

what you have a relationship with some

people they absolutely love anime right

because they just spent a lot of time

with anime great some people like

Pokemon some people like all kinds of

things I happen to like weird Canadian

movies like video drum and I like

Ant-Man so you know these things have

come to mind but they don't come to mind

out of nowhere they come come to mind

because I've trained myself to do this

so how are we going to train ourselves

to do this as a rabbi once told his

student who said how is it that you guys

are memorizing the Tanakh with such

great tenacity well the rabbi said you

must become a student a serious student

of the alphabet so please become a

serious student of the alphabet get

yourself a blank faed deck of playing

cards or just some of these wonderful

index cards blank and write out the

alphabet and look at letters so when you

have the letter U instantly come to your

mind should be Uma Thurman right or

whoever it could be uve B you don't know

these people necessarily I do I worked

with uve B on a movie when I was a story

but that's who I have here instantly

when I look at you and I train myself

just go through here who else could I

add Alberto Ekko the great writer who

wrote the name of the Rose uh and

wonderful non-fiction and then you know

you go to R and Ricky J comes to mind

and so on and you go to Jay The Joker of

course should come to mind everybody

knows the Joker don't they but also Jack

Nicholson who played The Joker uh and on

and on and on uh John Connor it could be

a fictional character John Connor of

course being uh J J C in The Terminator

series and Jesus Christ which is

probably why he was named JC uh C Cookie

Monster on and on and on X I know this

is a a letter that troubles a lot of

people zentia Zen xenophon Xerxes

Professor X from

X-Men uh did I say Zenia yeah that was I

believe the wife of Socrates the the

whole point is is you got to train

yourself to be able to do this and also

objects are useful too xylophone comes

to mind for X um

Malcolm X you know on and on and on and

uh if you don't have a Memory Palace for

X then you could think of a library

where you read about Malcolm X that s

sort of thing you also want to include

some numbers in here because you want

number systems as well so this has

particular symbols and it depends on

which number system we're using I know

this is all mentally overwhelming for

people who are new to it but you reduce

the overwhelm by training what do you

know that starts with s Superman

probably most people know Superman and

you can go from there right and there's

all kinds of people and you just got to

train yourself and that's one of my

favorite ways to train and practice

simple cards you don't have to go to the

extent that that I've gone to to uh make

your own deck but I recommend that you

at least do it with this and then have

one just for numbers and just for

symbols and train yourself to constantly

come up with these associations because

then when you're

studying you won't have any issues

whatsoever coming up with these images

you won't and I know you won't because

the memory science is very very clear

you are going to train your procedural

memory and procedural memory is a

superpower when you're using the Memory

Palace technique for

[Music]

studying now the other thing to do with

this is to also train Cape cogs so let's

say you have Superman or you have anano

dromia and you're thinking about Ant-Man

or whatever the whole point is is to

elaborate this thing so let's say we're

in my brother's house we're memorizing

an antio the Ria and we have Ant-Man

smelling steak right and it's covered in

ants and then we have Superman serving

the steak or whatever well we're going

to feel Superman serving the steak he's

really going to hold the plate of with

the steak covered in Ants In His Hands

we're going to feel that in our hands

we're going to

hear of all these ants moving around

we're going to have a visual of it I

mean you don't even have to see the

visual in order to imagine what it would

look like if you could see it there's

usually no time when you're memorizing

then we're going to go through the

emotion so Superman what emotion does he

have when he's handing a steak to

Ant-Man in order to help us remember

this word right and then you can have

the smell and the taste of what stake is

like you can have the concept which is

like Superman is actually from DC

instead of Marvel Etc and on and on and

you can have the size of Superman's

muscles relative to ant-man's muscles

you can train on every single card right

so you get to q and you think of Quincy

Jones and then you can think of Quincy

Jones doing something what does that

physically feel like and you can rotate

through your cave CS so you get to your

ex and you have Xerxes or or xenophon or

whoever and you can think h well okay so

what is he going to have a physical

sensation of and you can actually take

two of your cards together so if you

have I don't know Kurt Russell and

zenfon so now what are they going to do

to each other to have a kinesthetic

Association to have an auditory

sensation to have a visual to have an

emotion Etc so train train train in

advance so that you're able to come

across information rack it and stack it

in a Memory Palace and have images that

are already in your memory because you

look at the letter H and you don't have

to hum and haw over this you got Harry

Lorraine for H I mean of course we're in

the memory World here we have har rain

but we have all kinds of people and we

just train train train and it doesn't

take more than a second to just think of

who we're going to have people named

Frank I have a friend named Frank

there's a philosopher named Michelle

Fuko on and on and on Einstein for E Etc

but who else see if you can always push

yourself to get five people Etc so Eric

from blah blah blah like on and on and

on and work at it it's really really

important chances are you already know

five people that have the letter V

somehow in their name train train train

and then you're always going to have

sharp associations that are based on

what's already in your memory to place

in well-formed memory palaces that are

also already in your memory with no

invention you don't have to create

anything if the memory palaces aren't

well formed and you're sitting there

trying to come up with things that don't

exist or that aren't already in your

memory you're making it too hard

so the next question that we want to

cover assuming you have all of this

fundamental optimized wonderful

strategies and tactics under your belt

or at least you're practicing them based

on the real tradition the way it really

has worked for thousands of years you're

going to be wondering like well how do I

now do this with multiple subjects I

have chemistry on Tuesday I have

philosophy on Wednesday like how do I

juggle all of this well to use the

technique for a variety of subjects make

sure to have multiple memory palaces and

the simplest way to set up for the

mental dexterity involved in switching

between multiple memory palaces is to

have them in the first place have one

for each letter of the alphabet so that

you're able to encode always at the

alphabetical level now that doesn't mean

that you are always is going to encode

at the alphabetical level you might want

to build a number-based Memory Palace

system and have sub memory palaces

memory palaces within memory palaces on

and on and on and on but the reality is

is the easiest way to do it is just to

Simply have one for every letter of the

alphabet only scarcity based thinking

holds people back in this Regard in

reality there is more space around each

and every one of us than any of us could

ever hope to use in a lifetime so get

busy get a piece of paper out write the

letter a and then write all the letters

from A to Z or whatever letters are

involved in your mother tongue and then

just think who can I use for a oh I got

a friend named Adam oh I got a friend

named Brad and just draw out their

memory palaces so that you never have to

really think about those memory palaces

again because you'll have base them on

memory and then when it comes time to

use them you'll have them ready to go

your journey sorted out in advance

now there's the point about

memorizing dates so let's say you know

you're doing history and you have to

switch from philosophy to history or you

had to add a historical date to a

philosophical point and so forth you're

going to want a number system now the

most popular system is the major system

or it's big brother so to speak which is

a 00 to 99 Pao system all of that is

covered in its own video video you can

look in the resources for links below

and whatever it is studying for science

for concepts for theories it comes down

to these five systems and the way that

you got to deal with Concepts and

Science and theories and

formulas is really make sure that you're

not hypnotizing yourself into thinking

that

anything that appears in words numbers

letters

symbols is difficult it's not if you can

memorize one word you can

memorize thousands if you can memorize

one string of digits you can memorize

thousands of them if you can work out a

way to memorize an imaginary symbol like

a two with an umlout on it you can

memorize any symbol in the world you

know you've just got to work out well

what is going to be my pneumonic

Association for an umlout and you know

in Greek you may see two dots it's not

an umlout in Greek but in any case

there's lots of places where these

things come up with so you might need to

know the difference between the uml how

it's used in German and then how these

two dots are used in Greek and then you

just Place those things in different

memory palaces but if you sit there and

trick yourself into thinking oh my

goodness there must be some different

system for this there isn't it's always

the same system all you need is to make

your systems in advance so Memory Palace

system alphabet system number system

symbol system and then comes the space

repetition system or what I prefer to

call recall

[Music]

rehearsal recall rehearsal is the core

reason to use the Memory Palace

technique for studying in the first

place it is beautiful for space

repetition and to do it well you will

practice with a specific kind of

retrieval that will strengthen your

memory and Usher your target information

into long-term memory quickly so

basically what you want to do is have

enough information in the Memory Palace

first let's say you have 10 pieces of

information in a Memory Palace and how

how this works is you want to apply

equal doses of pracy effect and recency

effect to each piece of information

using the serial positioning effect so

without going into a long speech about

Herman ebbing house and the forgetting

curve and all of that all you need to do

is revisit the information in the marry

Palace by moving forward backward from

the middle of the Mary Palace to the

beginning and then from the middle of

the marry Palace to the end of the

sequence and then you want to skip the

stations each of these recall patterns

will challenge you and that's precisely

the point because you're dipping into

what scientists of learning and memory

sometimes call Active recall and it is

the challenge that helps form the

memories and when you're making mistakes

that's not a problem that's actually an

opportunity to think what was wrong with

my image in the Memory Palace that needs

just a little bit of tweaking a little

bit of improving this goes back

thousands of years you can find this in

Aristotle's deoria and I've talked about

it in a video called Aristotle's nuclear

alphabet if you want to know more about

just how old this principle is so you

need to follow those orders and then you

solve all your problems because a lot of

people will say well how do I extend a

Memory Palace can I alter a Memory

Palace can I change its size dimensions

can I extend its size all this stuff

right well if you develop them optimally

in the first place and you use recall

rehearsal to get the information into

long-term memory extending A Memory

Palace should never be needed and plus

you'll have a Memory Palace for every

letter of the alphabet and then you'll

have another Memory Palace Network again

based on the letters of the so in other

words you'll have two memory palaces for

a eventually if not three if not four

Etc and you just don't have to extend

any individual Memory Palace because the

whole point is to use it to get the

information into longterm memory now

there's a principle called compounding

which is if you have memories

established you can add on details so

let's say I've got an antio dromia set

up I remember that it's in a particular

Memory Palace and then I want to add on

some facts about Carl Young and connect

it to another one of his cool words like

cryptomnesia right well I can compound

that on in the original Memory Palace

but I should be just as capable of

making a new memory Palace or using a

pre-assigned Memory Palace and then just

adding on this relationship shouldn't

have to go back back to the original

Memory Palace shouldn't have to extend

the original Memory Palace I shouldn't

have to connect one Memory Palace to

another in ways that don't actually

reflect the reality of those spaces you

certainly can but it shouldn't be

necessary because the new information

can just be memorized new and here's the

beauty of it all you sometimes just

remember it because you've already

established this core piece of

information in your long-term memory and

if you want to not have any risk at all

you just grab one of your memory palaces

and you weave it into space and then you

use recall rehearsal to get the

information into long-term memory so you

don't have to worry about overcrowded

memory palaces you don't have to worry

about overpacking your memory palaces at

the end of the day although that is

bound to happen if you're a serious user

the real key is to have as many memory

palaces as possible to prevent these

issues from ever happening in the first

place and then when they do happen you

can correct course and just say oh wow

I'm really getting scarcity mindset here

I'm trying to put too much stuff in this

one place I'll just move this into

another Memory Palace using the

alphabetical method drawing upon other

places that I have established so I've

really wanted to focus our minds on just

using the marry Palace almost purely

logically but there are some other ways

that you can play around with this and

they really ultimately come down to Cave

cogs so one thing you can do for example

is Imagine riding physically onto the

walls of your memory palaces aquinus

suggests this based on the wax tablet

metaphor of memory that we see in

Aristotle Plato Etc and I found that

that is just an additional amount of

cognitive effort that isn't necessary I

like to float my associations so they're

not physically connected to the walls or

the floor or the ceiling of the memory

palaces and this approach gives more

breathing room in my experience to each

and every image now sometimes they may

be connected so when I think about an

anoia and Ant-Man he's kind of in a

recliner he's connected to the station

by virtue of the fact that there is a

recliner in the location that I used but

if there was nothing there I would just

float the image in space and not have

any special need for connection so I

will use the physical space if that it

lends itself to what I'm doing but not

if I'm worried that that chair might

move the recliner moving just not use it

at all or just remember the core

information through recall rehearsal so

it's not an issue right because I never

want to have to go back to a Memory

Palace to recall that word ever again I

want it in long-term memory so you can

get really into connections but I think

the ideal the nepu ultra if you will is

to not have connections at all unless

they're just happening happening

naturally due to the way the Memory

Palace is another thing that we should

talk about is people ask well how can I

clean out a Memory Palace I used to do

this a lot I'd get a broom sweeping out

the associations I'd get the mops that

Mickey Mouse has in Fantasia and have

them washing out memory pales this

really just seemed ultimately to me to

be a waste of time relative to just

having multiple memory palaces using

them with recall rehearsal to get the

information into long-term memory and

then going on to more memory palaces

there's so much space in the world the

key is to really make sure that you're

doing the art of memory in a way that

works for you so there's lots of advice

out there from all kinds of people and

you want to explore but try to make sure

that whatever you're exploring you

explore for long enough without muddying

the water of other people's ideas to get

a sense of one person's style so if you

pick this set of suggestions stick with

it for at least 90 days so your brain

can formulate the neuronal connections

that will help you really understand it

start wherever you are now and

understand that if you keep moving

around from this or that teacher and

getting shiny objects distracting you

over and over and over again you're

going to interrupt the for of any skill

by all means study this technique from

all the people you can find that's what

I did but I stuck with one approach for

long enough to really feel what that

individual was talking about then I

added different ideas and worked with

those there's a key example I can share

with you about this I did this for years

and years and years and I came across

one idea from Ron White we talked about

it in our discussion which you can watch

on my channel and listen to on the audio

magnetic marry method podcast and then I

just stuck with his Association or his

way of dealing with numbers relative to

having a body a number-based body Memory

Palace and I've been using it ever since

but I I paid the due diligence so to

speak by actually not doing anything

else for enough time to nail it to make

it really really useful and that's what

I suggest that you do too so it's not an

ego thing where I'm saying hey if you're

going to do my training stick with it

for at least 90 days it's a

neuroscientific thing and it's welln

it's well established in all kinds of

Science and I practice it myself not

just in memory but also in meditation

when I came across the Gary Weber

approach to memory based meditation

memorizing Sanskrit I stuck with it

before I started to bring in other ideas

in order to allow myself to really feel

it and knowing what I know about how

memory formation Works relative to Habit

formation letting that time build a

foundation before adding the next strata

on top of it so that the next technique

had a foundation to settle upon right

this is going to be so much better for

you over the long term even if it's a

bit of a sacrifice in the short term you

will ultimately benefit more from other

teachings precisely because you have a

foundation upon which to base the other

teachings so go nuts but always always

always keep this in mind it's been so

useful for me I hope it'll be useful for

you and the other thing about this that

I think is really really important to

understand and to allow yourself to

absorb deeply is the principle in memory

science of context dependence or state

dependent memory and get to that in a

second but thank you for being here

thanks for hitting that thumbs up thanks

for getting sub subscribed if you're new

here leaving your comments sharing this

around and if you'd like to go even

further into some of the issues around

the Memory Palace technique as such but

also in terms of reusing memory palaces

and using memory palaces specifically

for studying things like languages and

so forth make sure to go to Magnetic

method.com YT I've got four videos there

that are going to take you deeper into

the fundamentals of creating well-formed

memory palaces there's more examples

from students PDF worksheets that you

can complete that make everything faster

for you at magnetic method.com

YT now here's the thing and is you can't

always use this but when you can it is

so wonderful and Powerful to do if

you're going to have an exam and you can

find out where that exam is taking place

use that room as one of your memory

palaces for the

exam because this will give you better

context dependent memory you're going to

be in the space that you used your

memory Palace for now again it's not

always possible but there's also the

alternative which I used a lot when I

was at York University and I used it

again when I did a ma in Switzerland is

to use the campus use the area where

you're studying as a Memory Palace so

it's close enough so even if you can't

use the room where you're taking an exam

as your memory Palace you can use the

surrounding area which will give you a

little bit of that context dependence or

state dependent memory you will be in

the context of where you need to recall

the information you'll be in the state

and that will give you an extra boost of

recall I don't know exactly why it works

but I think it works probably just quite

in a common sense way you're in the

context you're in that state but the

trick still is to master the

fundamentals first so that you enjoy

smooth sailing with all of the five

pneumonic systems and that you're able

to use them as if they were just one

move even though they are built from

several moves sharpen that axe study the

individual moves of chopping the axe and

you will be able to cut down the forest

of anything you need to study in minimal

time with minimal effort and maximum

results that's what the magnetic mry

method is all about thanks for joining

me I hope you found this useful I hope

you had it as fun to go through as I had

fun making it for you get subscribed if

you're not already hit that thumbs up

and until we have a chance to speak

again keep yourself magnetic