How Can Memory Be Improved by Use of Mental Images, Concepts and Schemas?
There are several businesses on the market that offer solutions to achieve a better memory and to train your brain on how to access your memory in a more efficient manner: Videogames, interactive toys, online tests, puzzles, meditation techniques and the list goes on. Good memory is easily associated with an active and well functioning brain, therefore is no surprise that cognitive psychologists are interested in how we access our memories and continue experimenting in ways to improve it.
We will explore three of the most researched and effective methods, starting with Mental Image, followed by Concepts Formation and concluding with Schemas. We will introduce each method with a brief explanation, followed by examples and researched evidence that will support such claim.
Mental image
Most of the adult population uses sematic thoughts, which means we prevalently use words when thinking. However there have been many studies demonstrating that when mental images are used in conjunction with verbal or written information, we are able to recall this information more easily. It also seems that this approach works better with bigger, brighter and unusual images. A practical example of this method has been demonstrated when learning a new language. Miachael Raugh and Ricahrd Atknson xxxxxxx developed a key word technique based on this concept. They believed that if we identify a word in our mother tongue and associate an image that sounds like the word of the language we want to learn, we would be able to remember a basic foreign vocabulary more easily. For example, if we wanted to learn the French word ‘poubelle’ (which means ‘bin’ and it is pronounced pooh-bell) we would start with an english word that sounds like the French word, and create a mental image that associates that word with its translation. In this case we could picture ourselves lifting the lid of a bin, which looks like an upside-donw bell, and we pictured
We will explore three of the most researched and effective methods, starting with Mental Image, followed by Concepts Formation and concluding with Schemas. We will introduce each method with a brief explanation, followed by examples and researched evidence that will support such claim.
Mental image
Most of the adult population uses sematic thoughts, which means we prevalently use words when thinking. However there have been many studies demonstrating that when mental images are used in conjunction with verbal or written information, we are able to recall this information more easily. It also seems that this approach works better with bigger, brighter and unusual images. A practical example of this method has been demonstrated when learning a new language. Miachael Raugh and Ricahrd Atknson xxxxxxx developed a key word technique based on this concept. They believed that if we identify a word in our mother tongue and associate an image that sounds like the word of the language we want to learn, we would be able to remember a basic foreign vocabulary more easily. For example, if we wanted to learn the French word ‘poubelle’ (which means ‘bin’ and it is pronounced pooh-bell) we would start with an english word that sounds like the French word, and create a mental image that associates that word with its translation. In this case we could picture ourselves lifting the lid of a bin, which looks like an upside-donw bell, and we pictured