Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Memory Power -Technique 2 : Number shapes.

A number has a shape all of its own, but needs a little interpretation.

0 is an orange
1 is a paint brush
2 is a swan
3 is a camel
4 is the sail of a yacht
5 is a hook on a fishing line
6 is the trunk of an elephant
7 is a cliff
8 is a snowman
9 is a golf club
10 bat and ball

Using the guidelines for number rhymes, this time memorize a new list of 10 items, but this time link the pictures of the SHAPES system to the objects. I.e. Link your first item with a paintbrush (for 1) the second with a swan, the third with a camel etc. So a car at position 5 might be imagining pulling a car from a river using a hook and line.

How to turn 10 into 100!

A bit clever this …. Firstly, you will need to decide which system you like best, rhymes or shapes. If it is rhymes, then that is the BANK, and the shapes become the PATCH. Vice versa if you preference the other. It works like this.

Lets assume that you prefer rhymes. 1-10 is the same as a simple list. 11 upwards you create COMBINATION IMAGES. Each image will always have a ‘bun’ in it, but the bun interacts with the 10 shapes lists. So for example number 11 would be a paint brush painting a bun a colour. Number 15 would be a bun on a fishing line. All the numbers from 11 to 19 are the shapes, but
the bun means it is HAS A 1 AT THE FRONT. In the THIRD 10 (21-30) then each ‘shape’ will interact with a shoe! So number 28, would be a snowman wearing a pair of shoes. See the table over for further clarity.

Patch
1.brush 2.swan 3.camel 4.yacht 5.hook 6.elephant 7.cliff 8.snowman 9.club 10.bat

See 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
note

1:bun 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
2:shoe 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
3:tree 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
4:door 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
5:hive 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
6:sticks 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
7:heaven 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
8:gate 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
9:wine 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100

Note: for the first bank it is not necessary to have a number, as the first 10 will
stand on their own. However if wished you could have NIL = HILL. If you decide
that your Bank should be the shapes system, and the patch should be the rhyme
system then use the following table.



Patch
1.bun 2.shoe 3.tree 4.door 5.hive 6.sticks 7.heaven 8.gate 9.wine 10.hen
0:orange 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1:brush 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
2:swan 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
3:camel 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
4:yacht 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
5:hook 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
6:elephant 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
7:cliff 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
8:snowman 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
9:club 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100



The way to use this system obviously is to introduce the object to be remembered into this new composite image. So if you wanted to remember a clock at number 86 (IN THE FIRST TABLE), then you would have an elephant stood knocking (movement and sound) on a gate, and on his back is a giant clock. The reason for needing the idea of a BANK and PATCH system is that an image is just that, an image. So when you DECODE the image you will need to know which came
first. Otherwise you would be asking yourself if your placement of the clock was at number 86, or 68. This confusion would create an unstable memory image that might be forgotten. In fact, in this version number 68 is sticks and a snowman. Look now at the second table – what would the image be for a car at number 73? Work out which system you prefer and then stick to it!

How and why does it work?

We can retain separate images in our minds quite easily, and by using this kind of system of combining different elements the images remain quite distinct from one another. Because they are sequence based with a system we are already used to – that of counting – we are sure that we have not missed anything vital. But there is one more thing which I will touch on now, but will be dealt with a little more later on, and that is the process of recall and long term memory.
The act of re-membering creates the effect of strengthening the chemical bonds of a memory – or in the analogy of the stream, it widens it to a river. If you simply look again at the information to remind yourself then you are not actually remembering. There are optimum times for this process to be efficient, which will be covered later. But for now it is worth realising that using a systematic approach you will be able to recall far more information without the need to
recourse to the quick glance to remind yourself if you have forgotten anything. Such glances keep memories in the short term area of your mind, and true power memory is information which goes into long term memory.

In fact the amazing thing is that once the memory has been firmly fixed in the mind, you will no longer need the system to recall the information as it will become part of your normal thinking, so do not be concerned that you are going to end up with 1000’s of elephants running around in your head because the systems covered here are simply a tool to help you 1) retain the information in the first place 2) get it into long term memory.

What about erasing information?

Now that is the really clever bit. You can either let your mind lose the information over time (around 4 days!) or you can erase it ‘manually’. All you have to do is to go through the images without their attached items and you are ready to start over – a bit like erasing a tape recording or recordable cd which has just been re-formatted.

One last thing as we move on. Hopefully you will be realising that your memory is very impressive – in fact why not start impressing others now by doing a demonstration? It’s a strange feeling the first time you manage it because somewhere inside of you you probably didn’t think that it would work without all the strain and effort that you used to, or still do, put in at school. In fact because it is all just about remembering pictures you probably quite enjoyed it!

Memory Power- Technique 1 : Peg System

System 1 - Number rhyme

IN 5 MINUTES TIME YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RECALL A 10 ITEM SHOPPING
LIST IN ORDER, BACKWARDS, FORWARDS, AND INSIDE OUT!

Take each number between 1 and 10 - I will be using numbers in the text to make it easier for you to read.

Now create rhymes for each of those numbers. You should do it yourself, but here is what I use. This is not exclusive and you may prefer your own rhymes. What is important is that they are memorable, and solid concrete ideas –emotions will not work. You are working with pictures not ideas!

1 Bun
2 shoe
3 tree
4 door
5 hive
6 sticks
7 heaven
8 gate
9 wine
10 hen

MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STAGE ONLY WHEN YOU ARE SURE THAT YOU CAN REMEMBER YOUR OBJECT RHYMES.

Now, when you say the word ‘1’, immediately you should have the rhyme of a bun (in my case). ‘5’ would make you think of a bee-hive. You will get quicker in time, like the trickle becomes a stream, and it will take less effort.

This is your peg system.

Now I am going to give you another list – this time to remember.

Hat
Coat
Dog
Mouse
Car
Jacket
Sofa
Lightbulb
Candle
briefcase

Your task now is to join your RHYME to the appropriate object that you want to remember.

For example the sixth item on our list is a jacket. 6 rhymes with sticks, so imagine the jacket being beaten up with some sticks or a similar image. Maybe the jacket is playing the drums. Do the same for each item on the list. Here is a simple table to help you.

As you memorize each picture, try to make it move - have action in it, and keep it clear in your mind. Use the power memory booster tips of humour, larger than life etc. as mentioned earlier. Don’t worry about forgetting earlier items. They are still there. Just concentrate on each picture as you get to it. Now, close your eyes. Say to yourself ‘1’ and recall the rhyme. What was the
rhyme linked to …..

Amazingly as you go through each object you will recall the number, then the rhyme, and finally the picture which includes what you are trying to remember. Try it next time you go shopping!!
But perhaps the what you will find most unnerving is that once memorized, you will find it hard to stop your memory from throwing out the information! Images will tumble out faster and faster as you get used to using your memory. Its very strange at first, but you will get used to it.