The Magnetic Memory Method Podcast

You've dreamed about it for years. Opening your mouth and fluently speaking a foreign language. You know just how deeply that ability would fill the wide open gap in your soul. You may not be fully aware of why your monolingualism hurts so bad, but in this post you'll discover 15 reasons to find out what you're missing. Let's explore each of these and see how each can inspire you to get started learning a language today. There'll be some powerful tips and action steps for you at the end so you can get started today. Learning A Language Exercises Your Brain Do you ever feel like your mind has gone a bit soft? Chances are it does feel a little doughy. The good news is that learning a language is one of the best long-term workouts you can get. Working with new words and grammar rules gets multiple areas of the brain working together. And because you get to think familiar thoughts from a completely new angle, your perspective stretches more profoundly than looking at an M.C Escher painting ever will. Language Learning Develops Discipline Languages are fun, but also require consistency of exposure and effort. Luckily, access to languages has never been easier thanks to the Internet. However, you do have to click over to the right websites and invest your time optimally. Sites like Duolingo and Memrise offer some help, but you'll also want to find resources that capture all of the "Big Five Musts" of language learning: Memorizing Reading Listening Speaking Writing The good news is that you can get each of these done in the first half hour of your day with an additional one hour or less in speaking practice with a tutor per week. Covering The Big Five Of Language Learning is especially easy if you develop the discipline of consistently getting your language learning in before you even switch on the computer. There's more information about making sure you get all of these done within the first 15-30 minutes of your day in my case study Mandarin Chinese Mnemonics And Morning Memory Secrets. After you've covered your daily language learning activities first thing in the morning, you'll never never suffer the dreaded Zeigarnik Effect which creates intrusive thoughts when we're not focusing on things we need to get done. For the rest of your day, you can check in on your language periodically by stocking up on podcasts, watching some Youtube videos in your target language and by using the technique taught at the end of this article. Finally, work on understanding motivation in the context of language learning. Master your motivation and you'll make steady strides toward fluency in no time. Language Study Deepens Your Appreciation And Understanding Of Your Mother Tongue You rarely ponder it and yet it's in front of your eyes and on your mind all day long. It even dominates your dreams. Yes, your mother tongue is that prevalent. But just imagine understanding the ins and outs of your mother tongue at a higher level. The benefits are wide reaching and knowledge of how and why we speak as we do will enrich many aspects of your life. Your mother tongue is also downright amusing when you realize how many weird things we say. And as I suggest in this video… You won't get this level of silent education and amusement while walking down the street in any other way, so pay attention to the odd nature and quality of the phrases we speak. Ezra Pound called this element the logopoeia of language and it is profound. New Languages Exercise The Muscles Of Your Mouth And Ears There are spots on your tongue that you didn't know you have. Lots of them. And that's not to mention the backs of your teeth and the terrain of your palette. When learning a new languages, these places suddenly become a vast world ready for exploration. Your ears develop exciting new abilities too. You'll automatically start picking up on variations in sound and your attentiveness to detail will improve. All languages are musical and syncing your ears with your mouth makes you both the player and the instrument. Prepare to bloom. Your Cultural Knowledge And Understanding Expands Want to know why some people tick as they do? Learn about their culture from the inside looking out instead of trying to peer in. Whether it's history, politics, cinema, literature, theater or music, the ability to study and experience these aspects of a culture from within its language is inspiring. Even sculpture and painting take on new dimensions when you can read the plaques in your target language. The best part is that your interest in the culture will expand. When you start learning the language of a new culture you're interested in, prepare for your curiosity to increase twelve-fold (or more). Numbers And Math Concepts Will Grow Your Logical And Conceptual Abilities Learning to count and perform basic math operations in another language can feel a bit like learning to tie your shoelaces all over again. Different languages express numbers and the time of day in unique ways that can be puzzling to the point of frustration. But push through and you'll be delighted by your ability to think backward, sideways, upside down and in some cases completely opposite to your norms. Win in this department and you'll enjoy one of the highest forms of mental triumph you can experience. Learning Languages Boosts Self-Esteem And Confidence The great thing about the long game of learning languages is that there are countless victories along the way.Click To Tweet Small achievements build up you can feel proud of yourself again and again with greater intensity as your accomplishments grow. And it's not just about your self-esteem. Here's how to teach your kids memory techniques. New Languages Retrain Your Eyes You've seen the word "baker" thousands of times. But how about "Bäcker"? You recognize it in principle, but it looks weird with that extra letter and the umlaut, right? It sure does, though no more or less than "baker" looks to a German-speaker who can also probably figure out what the word means in English thanks to the similarity in spelling. It's a beautiful thing when you're able to see connections between languages, but it takes training. And you'll often do a Homer Simpson-forehead smack when you figure out similarities that should have been more obvious. That's just part of growing. Then there's the matter of completely new character sets. Few languages will challenge your ability to recognize patterns and associate sounds with symbols than Japanese or Chinese. Yet, once you've got your foot in the door, you'll grow by leaps and bounds and get to explore yet another dimension of logical arrangements you previously could not understand. One Or More Extra Languages Widens Your Job Prospects Even if that job you're dreaming of doesn't require proficiency in another language, what boss or hiring committee won't recognize your discipline and enhanced thinking abilities as an advantage? You can position yourself better and even open a company up to new opportunities that were previously closed to them when they hire you. If you're a freelancer, your pool of possibilities is also broader, as is your potential for networking. New Languages = New Friends Lots Of Them It's not that people who speak only your mother tongue bore you. But you are a curious person with multiple interests and you don't want to get tapped out or caught in the hamster wheel of friendships that cannot grow. That's why meeting new people you can speak to from within their culture can be so profound. You get the benefit of learning about their world and expressing details about yours. You can then bring new things back to your old friendship circles. This sharing breathes new life into everything and creates a perfect circle between the old and new. Just make sure you don't tell your friends any of these 5 Lies About Language Learning. They not true and only drag everyone down, especially you. Location. Location. Location. What better way to enjoy what you'll learn from your new friends than to visit their homeland? Not only that, but you'll be able to hold conversations with the locals, order in restaurants with confidence and even complain in hotels about the water temperature if you wish. Language Learning Slows You Down This feature of learning language might sound like a minus, but in our sped-up world, nothing could be healthier than taking the time to learn deeply at a slower pace. Just like you don't want to abandon the training wheels on a bike too soon, learning a language requires you to master a number of fundamentals. Gain traction with these and you can tackle the next level (and the level after that) with consistency, clarity and the certainty that you're getting it right. Learning A Language Teaches You A Ton About How To Learn Learning languages requires strategies that apply to learning anything. You can bring outside tactics to help you as you explore a new language, but more importantly, you'll take a lot of new approaches away for other kinds of learning. For example, you'll learn how to assess what you don't yet know how to say and find resources to fill in the gaps. You can transfer this ability to any communication-based activity. You'll spot missing words and note the need for clarity when writing or editing, for example. Learning Vocabulary And Phrases Exercises Your Memory When learning a language, you are playing an extended game of memory.Click To Tweet Retention and recall advance you through the levels, and even in your mother tongue, it's impossible to plateau. There are always more words to learn and memorize. How To Learn And Memorize Any Word Or Phrase In Any Language Fast The great thing about consciously using your memory while learning vocabulary and phrases is that you don't have to rely on painful rote learning. Although index cards and spaced-repetition software certainly have their place, the ancient art of memory, or mnemonics, offers powerful techniques for boosting your vocabulary in record time. The Memory Palace is one of the most effective memory techniques for language learning because you can group related words together. For example, a Memory Palace is an imaginary replica of a place you know, ideally a building like your home, school or workplace. If you can imagine the journey from your bedroom to the kitchen, then you're already well on your way to creating your first Memory Palace. If you need more help, you can use the Magnetic Memory Method Masterplan. To do it right, draw out a floor plan of your chosen building. It doesn't have to be perfect, just recognizable enough for you to recognize a distinct route. Try to move from the inside out and avoid crossing your path. How To Use The Magnetic Journey Method For Learning Your Foreign Language Then choose a number of "Magnetic Stations" along the route you've created. Attempt to have at least ten in your first Memory Palace, using spots like the corner of each room, tables, chairs and doorways. Next, get together the vocabulary you want to memorize. It can be random words or a list based on themes like travel. You can also memorize lists of verbs, nouns, adjectives or all of the preposition. Finally, you create a "Magnetic Bridging Figure." Base your Magnetic Bridging Figure on a real person or an actor for best results. Cartoon characters also work well. The easier it is for you to see this character interacting with different objects the better. And if you can associate the figure with the sounds of the words, you will be memorizing at the highest possible level. For example, let's say you've got a short list of German adjectives: Bockig Dunkel Weich To get started with memorizing German vocabulary, you could imagine James Bond in your bedroom. "Bockig" means "stubborn," so you could see Bond stubbornly whipping a block of ice with licorice. If you take a few seconds to exaggerate this weird image, you'll find that it's hard to shake from your mind. Plus, when you revisit the image in your bedroom later, it will remind you that the word you're looking for starts with "bo" thanks to James Bond. The "ck" sound in "block" will help you recall the "ck" sound in the target word and the liquorice in the image will help you recall the final "ish" sound. The more "stubborn" Bond looks in your image and the more exaggerated you make the action and colors, the better you'll be able you recall the sound and meaning of the word. The description you've just read may sound complicated, but that's because you're reading a mnemonic create by someone else. Once you start using this technique on your own, it will soon become second nature to you. Here's another example: Let's say that James Bond is now in your kitchen. You've got a basketball net in there and you see Bond slam "dunk" the letter "l" through the hoop. If you see the hoop as a dark black hole, then it will be simple to recall that dunk + l = dunkel, which means dark. To give a final example, "weich" means soft in German. By the door leading out of your home, you could see James Bond squeezing a viper between the jaws a soft and furry vice. Make it exaggerated and funny so that the imagery leaps out at you and the details make it easy to decode both the sound and meaning of the word. Again, these examples only demonstrate the guidelines of how mnemonics work. You'll need to experiment and create your own images based on the words you want to learn and memorize. In whatever language you're using, avoid getting stalled by looking for one-to-one correspondences between the images and words. You'll be pleasantly surprised by how easily your mind brings it all together based on near-associations. All that remains is to rehearse the Magnetic Journey Method in your mind a sufficient number of times until the words enter long-term memory. You can speed up the memorization process further by writing sentences using the words and speaking those sentences in a conversation. Casually mentioning to people what you've memorized and how you did it using mnemonics is also a great way to solidify new vocabulary and phrases. Finally, you can follow these steps for every letter of the alphabet. For example, here are some Hindi Alphabet Memory Palace secrets from a Magnetic Memory Method student. There Are No Magic Bullets In Language Learning (And That Is A Beautiful Thing) It's normal and natural to look for shortcuts. But when it comes to language learning, there aren't any. In fact, shortcuts, like SMART goals, aren't necessarily desirable. Why? Because you benefit so much from the learning process. You develop patience, stamina and the ability to juggle many moving parts. In today's age when computers are bearing so much cognitive load on our behalf, more than ever we need to have this kind of mental activity to keep our brains fit and our mental lives stimulating. Above all, by not seeking shortcuts and just getting down to learning, you learn to deal with imperfect communication. This process teaches you to come at problems from different angles until you've made things clear. And not seeking shortcuts is easy… So long as you're in the G.A.P.: In a world with over 7000 languages, getting in the language learning G.A.P. and staying there is a skill worth having. In every tongue. The post 15 Reasons Why Learning A Foreign Language Is Good For Your Brain appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

You want your children to remember what they learn, right? You've probably even hoped that they'd learn enough to succeed in life. Maybe even change the world. It's a great aspiration. And an important one. And yet … Here's Why So Few Children Fail To Make A Mark As Grownups Memory. Think about it. Every test your child will ever take relies on memory. And every gatekeeper your child will ever pass on the way to fulfilling their dreams hinges on the ability to recall details. Thoroughly and accurately. And since we know that the ability to succeed has everything to do with what you know (and who you remember that you know), the question is … How do you get your children started towards a superior memory so that they can succeed? I'm glad you asked because you're about to find out. The Simple Way To Use Rhymes And Your Family Home To Learn, Memorize And Recall Anything The best memory techniques all use buildings and other fixed locations. Why? Because the human mind has the unusual ability to remember the layout out buildings. For this reason, location-based mnemonics has lasted thousands of years. Go ahead and try it. Have everyone in your family draw a map of your home. You'll be amazed by the accuracy each of you brings to the game. Here's an image of a simple drawing from a young person who did precisely this activity to give you ideas and inspire you. She took the layout of her home from the drawing stage to rebuilding this floor plan in her mind so she could memorize a poem. The Special Structure Anyone Can Use To Learn, Memorize And Recall Anything Anyone of any age can build one and use it to memorize anything. But please don't use Memory Palaces to memorize any old thing. The trick is to use these wonderful mental structures for memorizing important information. Not just any information. I'm talking about the kind of information that makes a direct impact on the quality of your child's life. In the present and the future. So location is the first power of memory. The second power of memory is association. To use this power, you associate information with a location. And to make the information really magnetic, you create crazy images that makes it easier to recall. Usually these images will come from visual sources you already know, such as movies, paintings, famous figures and the like. You can also turbocharge the images you create by using stock images placed in the Memory Palace. Here's An Easy Way To See The Second Power Of Memory In Action Imagine that your house has five rooms. Kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom and playroom. You've already drawn them out and can walk in your imagination from room to room. And your child can do this too. Next, use the following rhymes to place an imaginary object in each room. 1 is a bun 2 is a shoe 3 is a bee 4 is a door 5 is a hive You don't have to use these rhymes. It's great fun to come up with your own as a family activity. But these are standard and you can find a full list of these mnemonic examples and a full explanation of this mnemonic peg system here. But keep in mind that we're going to take things one step further than rhyming. We're going to combine this technique with a familiar building like your home. Now pretend that your son or daughter needs to learn the names of the first five vertical entries on the Periodic Table of Elements. The following suggestions are examples only. The method will work best when young people come up with the images on their own. Hydrogen goes in the first room. They see a bun saying "Hi" to a drone reading Genesis. In the second room, they see a shoe with a huge L on it. It's drinking tea and saying "um." Lithium, The third room has a bee. He's also saying "um" while drinking soda. Sodium. The fourth room has an enormous potato with a door from which donkeys are entering the room with small potatoes in their mouths. Potassium. In the fifth room, we have rubidium. Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz is knocking on the hive. You can help everyone in your family use this location and rhyme-based memory technique to learn and memorize anything. From facts and mathematical figures to foreign language vocabulary and artifacts from Ancient Egypt. Being able to recall these in a snap make a huge difference for kids in school. And bilingualism is very health for young brains. The Minimalist Guide To Making Memory Improvement A Family Event If your young person is struggling to learn, retain and reproduce information, here's how you can help. If you've already used your home as a Memory Palace, visit a relative or friend. Make a Memory Palace based on their home. You can literally walk the journey between the actual rooms with them, encouraging them to come up with the memorable images on their own. You can also use a walk through a simple park, a movie theater, a church or a library. But please do start with simple structures before introducing anything more complex. Mastering simple buildings makes mastering multi-detailed environments much easier. Teach Your Kids How To Paint Like Picasso In Their Minds If your child struggles with creating images to associate information with, help them to become more visual by looking at art together. If you can visit art galleries, all the better. These buildings can become Memory Palaces too. You can also help your children become more visual by encouraging drawing more than just Memory Palaces. Characters from movies they've enjoyed and especially representations of people from books they've read about but never seen work well. They will get the visual imagination flowing. It's also useful to look at an image and then have your child "remake" the image in their imagination. Seeing in the mind is a skill you can develop over time and you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Mentally "copying" the great masters is perfectly fine. Great and original artists do it all the time. Use World Class Examples To Inspire Your Child To Memorize One way to make these memory skills more interesting to young people is to tell them the story of their origin in Ancient Greece. Simonides of Ceos was giving a speech at a banquet when the building collapsed. Because he had memorized where everyone was using the location principle, he could help families identify their loved ones. The Simonides story also perfectly demonstrates the principles of exaggerated imagery along with location. The vibrant image of a building collapsing is just of the reasons the story has lasted the centuries. The image is as hard to forget as is the promise of near-miraculous memory ability. Your kids will also find Matteo Ricci's life as an international mnemonist inspiring. He sailed from Italy to China and could memorize books forwards and backward. His life included a great deal of drama and even tragedy. You can also share with them the stories of how ordinary people have learned memory techniques and used them to accomplish extraordinary feats. Read Joshua Foer's Moonwalking with Einstein for a particularly compelling story to pass on. You can also listen to the Magnetic Memory Method interviews with Dave Farrow, Mark Channon and Alex Mullen for many inspiring stories of ordinary people learning memory techniques and accomplishing great things for themselves and others. Nelson Dellis, for example, has done a lot for Alzheimer's research and you can contribute to it by taking his Extreme Memory Challenge. Show All Children The True Path To Memory Mastery With One Simple Tool We double what we've learned every time we teach. Teaching is the simplest tool for learning something better ever invented. All you need to do is learn something and then share what you've learned. Merely by doing this you will have learned it better yourself. It's also great memory exercise. Encourage your child to share what they've learned with others so that they absorb the skills with greater depth. Teaching others also follows the principle of contribution. Your child feels like she or he has given something great and also made the world a better place. Reciprocity will be a natural result. You can also ask your child to teach you what they've learned directly from their memory. Ask them to "decode" the images they've created without revealing them. Focus on the core information first and then share the weird images if you wish. At the end of the day, these images are nothing more than training wheels on a bike. They prompt or trigger the target information. But it's the memorized information they should reproduce first. Having your child repeat what they've memorized at home also gives them practice in a low-stress environment. (Your home is low-stress, isn't it?) That way, when the time to take a test arrives, they can access those comfortable feelings about memory created at home. This certainty will help them cope with the pressure of performance at school. Imagination and memory abilities soar much higher when we're relaxed. Are Memory Techniques The Ultimate Learning Solution? Yes and no. Memory techniques are a supplement to how schools teach, not a replacement. Some kids take to it more than others and for some, taking pleasure in the technique is necessary. But if the images are sufficiently funny and fascinating, it's hard to imagine the Magnetic Memory Method as boring. As a final tip, avoid perfection. Just have fun with the art of memory and let go of the outcome. At its core, all we're doing is looking at information that needs to be learned and retained in a new and likely more interesting way. But it's important not to associate this technique with the same pain and frustration given to rote learning. Your child will always be learning the information, but if something truly won't stick, move on and come back to it. You increase the pleasure and chances of success by not forcing it. And if you as a parent would like more information about using Memory Palaces to learn and memorize information that can make a positive difference in your life, I've got a Free Memory Improvement kit for you. It comes with four free videos and will teach you everything you need to know about improving the memory of everyone in your family. So what do you say? Are you ready to start changing the world? All it takes is teaching memory skills to one young mind at a time. Further Resources Tap The Mind Of A Ten Year Old Memory Palace Master Memory Improvement Techniques For Kids The post How To Teach Your Kids Memory Techniques appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Could This Man Be The GODFATHER Of Memory Techniques Of The 20th & 21st Century? (Seriously. The dude has memory courses on vinyl.) Although memory training has been around for millennia, it has seen a huge resurgence in modern times. There are now countless books and materials about memory improvement, not to mention video courses, audio programs and, yes, resources like the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast. But if there is one name who stands behind the explosion of mnemonics in the 20th and 21st century, that name is Harry Lorayne. Through his voluminous work as an author and presenter, Lorayne spawned and popularized the modern industry of memory training. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in terms of sheer visibility and quality, I think it's safe to say that Harry Lorayne is the Mnemonic Godfather of modern memory training. How To Survive A Terrible Childhood And Create A Memorable Career But the future didn't always look so promising for Lorayne. Judging from his childhood conditions during the depression-era, it seemed that the odds were firmly stacked against him. "I had an awful childhood. I'm a depression kid." Lorayne shares in his 2012 interview with Michael Senoff. "I remember having a potato for dinner." He was also affected with dyslexia, which he only identified as such years later. This learning disability caused him to struggle and fail while in grade school. But Harry Lorayne's life took a different course when he discovered books on memory improvement. As he told me in the exclusive interview he gave for Masterclass members, he discovered memory techniques in a dramatic way and after learning these methods and drastically improving his grades, he started teaching his classmates on how they too could become memory masters. From there, Harry Lorayne progressively became more and more successful. Lorayne has managed to emerge as one of the most famous and published magicians and memory experts of the century. Now in his late 80s, Lorayne is still at work teaching the world about memory, success and perseverance. The Secret Ingredient That Made Harry Lorayne And His Memory Techniques Go Viral Harry Lorayne was born of Jewish parents in 1926 in Manhattan's Lower East Side, right near the East River. Having come to the world only 3 short years before the Great Depression, Lorayne's childhood was spent in impoverished and difficult circumstances. Most everyone was poor, and Lorayne was amongst the poorest of the poor. Poverty colored all aspects of Harry Lorayne's childhood, including his play. He recalls how with his childhood friends he would play in a garbage dump near where he lived. Lorayne recounts: "The garbage became a petrified hill. They were long, petrified mountains of garbage, and that was our playgrounds. That's what my friends and I played on when I was a little boy." School also proved to be difficult Lorayne. Due to his undiagnosed dyslexia, Lorayne received failing grades as a young boy. To make matters worse, his father had a heavy-handed way of dealing with his son's school performance. "I got the paper [test] home to my father to sign, and he would look at the failing grade, and he would punch me," remembers Lorayne "I was scared. Not of getting failing grades, but of getting hit by my father." How Fear Created A Memory Solution That Would Help Millions Of People Improve Their Memory Pushed to find a solution, a stroke of insight struck Lorayne one day on his walk to school. "I just realized that at that point in my life, all you had to do was remember the darn answers to the questions, and then you'll get a passing grade. And then, more importantly, your father won't punch you." In other words, Lorayne understood that school was more about a test of how well you could memorize than a test of 'intelligence'. As he says repeatedly in many of his interviews "There is no learning without memory." Lorayne soon headed to the library where he asked the librarian to show him where the books on "how to memorize" were kept. There, he immersed himself for hours in how-to books on memorization. These included books from the 17th and 18th century, and works from modern memory trainers, such as David Roth. Much of the material was not comprehensible for him at his young age. However, he understood enough to teach himself how to memorize things quickly and effectively using mnemonics techniques. From that point on, he aced his tests at school, surprising his teachers and sparing him from his aggressive father. His classmates took notice, and started to ask Lorayne how he managed to have improved his memorization so drastically. That marked the start of his career teaching others on how to memorize effectively. Later, Lorayne would even have other people teaching his techniques for him. For example, the magician Darwin Ortiz talks about teaching for Lorayne in his Penguin Magic Live Lecture. But long before being a teacher and helping others become teachers of memory techniques, Lorayne became a dropout during his first year of high school. To make an income, Lorayne started performing memory tricks for small to medium sized audiences. He would impress crowds by memorizing magazine pages, decks of cards or large lists of names. His original intention in doing these shows was to attract students to hire him for memory training. He found little success in doing so, but his shows led him to be noticed by an agent. The agent started Lorayne on a path of presenting to larger and larger audiences. By 1958, Lorayne was presenting on national television, including shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Merv Griffin Show and Good Morning America. Lorayne performed on the The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson no less than 24 times. One of his most famous memory feats include memorizing each of the names of crowds of up to 1500 people. As much as 20 minutes later, he would be able to name each of the audience's names when prompted. He is also known for having memorized an entire phone book. But Lorayne didn't make his name off of entertaining others with memory tricks alone. Instead, he became famous by teaching others how to use these techniques and improve their own memories. This Memory Improvement Solution Could End Your Memory Troubles Forever Harry Lorayne has sold millions of copies of his many books teach people around the world on how to replicate his memorization ability. Many actors and other public figures have publicly acknowledged using Lorayne's methods. These include New York city mayor Michael Bloomberg, Secretary of State Colin Powell and actor Alan Alda. Harry Lorayne's method is based on image associations. This is where the memorizer associates an image with the piece of information that they'd like to remember. Lorayne's methods are based on the idea that all memory can be broken down into associations of two entities. As Lorayne puts it "That's what I teach, how to make one thing remind you of another." Lorayne's method also extends the technique to non-physical and non-visual concepts, such as numbers. His teachings guide students on how to visualize numbers physically so as to remember them. He does this by teaching students to associate numbers 1 through 9 with specific letters (a technique known widely as either the Major Method or Major System). With this technique, any number can be connected with at least one word. By associating numbers with a physical word, numbers are given a physical quality. As compared to the abstract concepts that are numbers, physical qualities can more easily be used as mnemonics. Lorayne also underlines the importance of paying attention. His method includes teachings on how to concentrate and focus on the information students are trying to memorize. "We are all born with the same capacity for memory," he says. "It's a question of having a trained memory, or an untrained memory" One thing that many note about Lorayne's work, however, is that his teaching seems not to cover the Memory Palace Method technique. No one is quite sure why, but my feeling is that in some integral manner, memorizing the names of each person in a large crowd must use location in one way or another. Unless the individuals change location, a mnemonist performing a feat like this most certainly taps into the power of a repeated location, if only unconsciously. There is a link between the where the information was memorized and where the mnemonist goes to recall it. What Will Harry Lorayne's Contribution To Helping You Create Instant Memories Will Bring To Your Future? The answer is: Success. In addition to his immense contribution to memorization training, Harry Lorayne has made significant contributions to the field of magic. For example, he's written over 30 books on card tricks. As a world recognized magician, Lorayne has invented and refined techniques which are now widely used by current-day amateur and professional magicians. Lorayne's life and career shows us how even barriers which many would consider insurmountable can be overcome. His landmark contributions to memory training is an essential tomb in the library of memorization techniques. At 89, Harry Lorayne continues to work and give seminars to large corporate audiences. He has even recently completed an autobiography. Harry Lorayne, living legend of memory mastery, proving what Winston Churchill said: "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts" Further Resources The Memory Book Ageless Memory Super Memory – Super Student: How To Raise Your Grades In 30 Days Jonathan Levi On ADD, Education & His TEDTalk Memory Palace The post Harry Lorayne Memory Improvement And The Magic Of Mnemonics appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

There's No Way Of Learning Chinese With A Messy Mind! Or … Is there? Actually, yes. There is. No matter how manic, no matter how depressed, no matter how much I've got on my plate, ALMOST every day, I fit language learning into my schedule. One of my best tricks is this: Win The Morning, Win The Day Do you reach for your cell phone first thing? And are you making the mistake of using it as an alarm clock so that you have no choice but to check it first thing? If you're serious about learning a language, checking your messages and farting around on social media first thing in the morning is a big no-no. That's true even if you want to learn languages online. Think about it. How many times have you gotten caught up in the "Twilight Zone" of Facebook only to notice that 15 minutes … 30 minutes … even an entire hour has slipped past. For nothing! So don't do it. Here's How To Get Language Learning In First Thing So You Feel On Top Of Your Progress All Day Long I hate having that feeling throughout the day that I'm neglecting what I love: memory and language learning. So in addition to winning back oodles of time by not looking at my "dumb phone" and not turning on the computer, here's what's going on right now: On the floor beside my bed, I have Langenscheidt's Chinesisch Schreibübungsbuch. It's a book written in German that teaches how to write the Chinese characters. Tucked inside the book is the notebook I'm using to draw the characters. I don't get out of bed until I've spent as long as it takes to practice drawing 8 characters 8 times. Why 8? No idea. That's just the number that came to mind. It's just part of what I've learned from Olly Richards: You Must Have A Language Learning System! Seriously. You must. Languages don't get learned Helter Skelter. They get learned based on consistent efforts executed consistently. That's the first part of my system and a huge part of The Big Five Of Language Learning. Next, I pop in my Human Charger and meditate. I do this for exactly 9 minutes. Why 9 minutes? Because that's how long it takes for the Human Charger to shoot its light into my ears. You may have heard me talk about other, more relaxed meditation approaches in the past, but I'm experimenting with this one and it works really well. Next, I knock off another of The Big Five language learning activities: Spend Time Listening To Your Language Every Day Listening to Pimsleur language learning programs (Pimsleur for Mandarin Chinese no less) used to bore the snot out of me. Sorry to be vulgar, but it's true. Think about it: You listen to this guy promoting you in English to say stuff in the language you're studying again and again and … … again. It's Like Pounding Nails Into Your Head! But then I had an idea: What if I "fuse" listening to Pimsleur recordings with the Magnetic Memory Method. Oh ho ho, Magnetic friend. That's when Pimsleur started to get really interesting. This might sound complex, but it works. Get a notebook. Reserve it for your MMM Pimsleur experiment. Then get out a pen and pop on your headphones. Next, make a couple of columns: English (or mother tongue) Homophonic transliteration Mnemonic Imagery Words Notes Also, leave space to draw a Memory Palace on the page. Draw one out using all the principles of the Magnetic Memory Method you've learned from one of my books or video courses. If you don't know how to make a Memory Palace, get this: It's all very easy peasy and, yes, even lemon squeezy (as one MMM student once put it). Now you're set. Keep the pause button handy and then press play. When the man introduces how to say: "Excuse me, may I ask?" pause the recording and write this down in your English column. Then, after you hear the native speaker say it in your target language, write out what you hear in your own spelling. Say it out loud and spell it in whatever way seems best to you. Don't Make The Mistake Of Overthinking This For Mandarin Chinese (Or Any Other Language) Like Jesse Villalobos told us in his recent Magnetic Memory Method review, just do it. And don't worry about standardizing your homophonic transliterations. You're just helping your mind understand the sound and meaning of the phrases using multiple senses and muscles. Seriously. I can't tell you the dozens of different ways I've spelled different phrases and it doesn't matter. I can speak them in the target language, in this case, Chinese. Next, think up some imagery that helps you memorize the words. Whatever comes to mind. And if you're following along, the brief meditation will have you calm, relaxed and juiced up with creativity. Once you've got that whipped up, stick it on, at, beside or even under your first Memory Palace station. Finally, press play again and carry on. What Will Happen To You Next Is A Language Learning Miracle Soon the Pimsleur guy will ask you to say that phrase for which you just created mnemonic imagery. Press pause and then look into your imagination (not at the page!) and "decode" the image you placed on your Memory Palace station. Got it? Of Course You Get It! Because the reality is that if you know mnemonics, there is never any problem with them. Never. Anyhow, I do this until I've filled out one page of my notebook. Can You Guess How Much Time This Costs Using Mandarin Chinese Mnemonics So Far? Go on, have a guess. Nope. Still no … Getting closer. Oh, all right, I'll tell you. 15-20 minutes, more or less. All thanks to cutting out morning social media and 3 little systems: 8 x 8 characters 9 minutes meditation 1 page of MMM-ified Pimsleur Do this for a month and you're further along than most people will get in a lifetime of starting and stopping. But Wait! There's More About Memorizing Mandarin Chinese I Want To Teach You! So far we've covered 4.3 of The Big Five. We've got: Writing Reading Listening Memorization … and a touch of solo speaking. That's where my Mandarin Chinese speaking partners come in. You Can't Expect To Learn A Language Without Actually Speaking It Now, sometimes what I do with my Mandarin Chinese speaking partners is rather elaborate. More on that in a minute. The important thing is that I speak with these people. Plain and simple. Doesn't have to be perfect. Doesn't even have to be right. It just has to be time spent speaking. I do this at least two times a week, ideally three. I sing in Chinese too: All fantastic. All following the principles of motivation for language learning based on memory techniques. The only problem is … This Approach To Learning Mandarin Chinese Is Almost 100% Introverted! Yes, okay, talking with speaking partners online is technically communicating with other human beings. Technically. But it's still too solitary. This is why I propose that there's a sixth component that needs to be added to the Big Five: Socialization Think about it. Are you going to go through all the work of learning a language just to speak with people online? Of course not. You want to be able to strike up conversations with the locals when traveling. Order a memory-friendly drink in a restaurant, either in a local restaurant or abroad. Flirt with cute members of the opposite sex, maybe even find the partner of your dreams. I know I do. So please stay tuned for more language learning for introverts and socialization secrets coming soon. Further Resources In the meantime, check out some of these previous Magnetic Memory Method podcast episodes with other great language learners for in-depth tips and training: The Steps I Took To Memorize 3 Chinese Poems in 2.3 Weeks Luca Lampariello On How To Master Any Language Mindset, Memory And Motivation With Sam Gendreau Noel van Vliet Talks About The "Back End" Of Language Learning Chinese Vault From Mandarin HQ Plus, here's my Basic Chinese Phrases and Mandarin Mnemonics playlist on YouTube: The post Mandarin Chinese Mnemonics And Morning Memory Secrets appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Memory champion Alex Mullen shares his secrets on memorizing 52 cards in 17 seconds, mastering medical terminology with mnemonic techniques, and learning Mandarin. Discover his journey into memory techniques, creation of mnemonic systems, flexibility in crafting symbols, and application in medical education and language learning. Dive into the world of memory championships and enhance your memory skills with his expert advice.

Amazing Language Learner Olly Richards Pulls Back The Curtain On Exactly How He Learned 8 Languages In Record Time – With More Than A Full-Time Job Crowding His To Do List … Tune In To Learn How You Can Do It Too! In this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, Olly makes a second appearance on the show to follow up on the episode called Olly Richards Talks About Language Tech And Real Communication. But before you listen to this episode, make sure to join us on Olly's free training series, "3 Proven Secrets To Becoming Conversational In Spanish". This call is pre-recorded, so you can register anytime. I'm on the call as both moderator and student advocate, so you won't want to miss a moment of this call. We go deep into what it takes to learn a language and you'll take away a lot of actionable tips. After registering for the call, come back and listen to each and every word of this special podcast and you'll learn: * How to find words and phrases that you ACTUALLY want to speak when learning a language. * The power of setting a "crazy goal" for motivating yourself to take action and make targeted strides, even if the language you've chosen is difficult. * How to elevate your thinking about the art of language learning so you get maximum results in minimum time. * The best ways to "wrangle" your speaking partners and tutors into shape so they help you study what you need to study instead of wasting time on willy-nilly activities that won't get you anywhere. * The essential questions you should prepare yourself to answer when studying your dream language. * How to develop a list of topics that you're likely to talk about so that you're not chained to the next page of your textbook. * The new – and BETTER – way to think about rote learning for getting traction when learning a language. * Why memorizing is just one part of language learning and how to identify and isolate the other parts to boost your success. * The one thing that keeps Olly up at night when learning a language. Solve this one worry for yourself and you will never run out of steam. * The scheduling secret Olly uses to "oblige" himself to attend lessons. You can uses this approach too – even if you've got a zillion things to do. Heck, the dude even shipped himself to Thailand when he wanted to learn to speak Thai. * The absolute best time of day to study your target language so that you always feel like you've made progress and build your sense of accomplishment. * How to avoid letting the great get in the way of the good so that you can start from a place where speaking practice is always good not matter how unprepared you might be. Use this approach and you can literally get prepared on the fly. * The ultimate motivation secret for getting yourself through multiple lessons and find language teachers you will genuinely love learning from. * The untapped power of hypothetical questions and role play in your language learning practice that you're not using – but should be! * Olly's take on using mnemonics for individual words and when you should be focusing on them instead of entire phrases. In fact, you should be encountering them inside entire stories. Here's an example from Olly from his Spanish Short Story collection: * Textbook tactics for shopping and getting the most out of every resource you buy. * How to avoid tourist-speak so that you aren't limited to ordering food and asking directions to the hospital for your cat (yes, you will be led into these dead ends if you don't take Olly's advice). * Exactly how to deal with introversion so that no matter how shy you might be, you can eliminate random social unknowns and learn in a safe and practical environment. * … and much, much more. This is the kind of episode you're going to want to save and keep returning to again and again. And if you interested in memorizing the key points, How To Memorize A Textbook will help you master this simple skill and put you in a position to memorize vocabulary and phrases at a higher level thanks to your practice of the art of memory. Further Resources Olly's I Will Teach You A Language Podcast Olly's Language Learning Foundations Course (highly recommended) Olly's Amazon Author Page Spanish Short Stories For Beginners Volume One Spanish Short Stories For Beginners Volume Two Italian Short Stories For Beginners German Short Stories For Beginners Russian Short Stories For Beginners Photo Essay The picture above is from the May 2015 Polyglot Gathering in Berlin. From left to right you see myself, Olly, Richard Simcott, Kris Broholm, Brian Kwon and Jan van der Aa. From the same event, Benny Lewis, myself and Olly. Somehow they manage to just look crazy. I took first prize for psychotic. Mark Channon discusses memory techniques and the good habits needed to make massive strides with them at Magnetic Memory Live in London 2015. Olly's Memory Palace based on his apartment in Cairo. Top notch work and it was very cool that I could see the place with my own eyes more than a year after he sent me this drawing. The list of words in Egyptian Arabic Olly used the Memory Palace to memorize. In Egypt, Olly introduced me to the Nile in style. A sushi bar. My last day in Cairo, we played with hiragana and katakana and Olly drew a diagram of exactly how languages get learned at the highest possible level. I won't mentioned the memory-unfriendly Guinness we were swilling – because we truly weren't. Quick Summary Of Things Olly Taught Me At the 2015 Polyglot Gathering in Berlin, Olly noticed the benefits, but more importantly, the deficits of my flirting around with multiple languages. Talking about this issues, we were talking along a street in Prenzlauerberg when he gave me the excellent idea of directing the Magnetic Memory Method back at just one language. But this time, instead of starting from scratch with a new language, he suggested I focus on using mnemonics to dramatically improve my relatively advanced German skills. And so that's exactly what I did. Here's how: First, I immediately hopped on italki and found a German speaking partner. I've had a few since then, and each has been a blessing. Olly's guidelines for getting the most out of a speaking partner are golden, and he talks about them in detail in the episode of the podcast you can download at the top of this page. To maximize the value of the sessions, I always ask my speaking partners to use a Google spreadsheet for each lesson. This lets me isolate the new vocabulary, arrange it and even drop in a scan of the Memory Palaces I use to rapidly learn and memorize the sound and meaning of each word I'm encountering, often for the first time. Then, I write sentences around the words after pulling them from my memory – away from the source of the spreadsheet. Only later, do I check them against the record and troubleshoot when necessary. A second trick I learned from Olly is to record all my sessions. That way I can go back and hear exactly how the speaker pronounced the words. I can also hear my own pronunciations. This process is super-painful, but it helps immensely. Third, I follow Olly's advice to forbid (as much as possible) the speaking partner from using any English. This practice can be frustrating, but stick to it and you'll be amazed by how quickly you outpace yourself. Caution, however. This is advice Olly gives for when you're at an intermediate level with a language. At the beginning stages, it can be very useful to have your instructor explain certain features of a language to you in your mother tongue. Just don't let that be an excuse for not diving in to the language. You also shouldn't get in the habit of using it as a crutch. Learn how to say, "I don't understand" and "please say that in other words" a.s.a.p. Fourth, I begin each new speaking session with a review of everything I memorized from the last one. But I don't cheat. The original spreadsheet is on another tab and I honestly work from memory. This allows me to benefit from any mistakes I make. And again, this is recorded so that I'll be reviewing the process again later. You might be thinking that hearing mistakes made grounded on false moves with the Memory Palaces would just lead to confusion, but it's quite the opposite. The entire process only gets stronger. Finally, here's a fun – but rigorous – technique I added on my own: As part of my reading practice, I choose three new words from each page. Never more and only less when I don't find a max of three new words on a page. Then I memorize them using the room I'm in as the Memory Palace and follow up by writing sentences around them. A book with an average of 300 pages read over the period of 6 – 8 weeks = 900 new words inside of two months. With an 80% retention rate, the results are impressive. The only problem I've found in the past is that I wind up learning a ton of words that no one uses. However, that's an interesting problem to have, fun for my philological yearnings and thanks to the practice I've found an interesting solution that puts a bit more bang behind this unusual outcome: I read books written only in first person and in one of the Berliner dialects. This choice increases the chances that I'll learn words that people use around me and teaches me a lot more about one of my favorite cities in the world and the people who call it home. Thanks again to Olly for the solid lessons and for being on the show – see you soon! The post Olly Richards On Crazy Language Learning Goals And Mastering Motivation appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

It's a curious thing that human beings, and most other animal species, are driven to regular periods of inactivity and unconsciousness. What could be less evolutionarily beneficial than a stretch of eight hours during which you can't hunt, defend yourself, or reproduce? Not to mention working on your memory improvement. All jokes aside, the fact that we are driven to sleep is an indication that sleep has an important purpose in our biology. And yet, the precise mechanisms of sleep remain largely mysterious. The exact reasons why we require sleep, and what happens during sleep, are areas of current research. One thing is for certain: lack of sleep leads to an array of social, financial, and health-related costs. Indeed, the fatality rate of sleepiness-related car crashes is similar to that of driving under the influence (Goel et al 2009). What's more is that prolonged sleep deprivation leads to death for many studied species (and presumably humans) (Cirelli et al. 2008). Despite these realities, a full 20% of adults are not getting enough sleep (Goel et al 2009). It's a common practice in our culture to praise those who can work the most and sleep the least. However, research indicates that this attitude is misguided. Lack of sleep has important negative implications for cognition. Sleep deprivation puts pressure on your entire cognitive apparatus, and has the potential to affect your memory. After this article, you may be convinced that a nap is in order. What Exactly Is Sleep? Over 85 years, an average person will sleep 250,000 hours, which is equal to 10,000 full days (Scullin et al 2015). But what is sleep, really? It is commonly believed that sleep is a continuous period of a complete loss of awareness. But in actuality, sleeping is not one continuous state and a sleeping person does not lose total awareness. Instead, they alternate between reduced awareness of the external world and a complete loss of consciousness (Gudberg et al 2015). From here, sleep is typically classified into two categories. The first is non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep and the second is rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep (Bryant et al 2004). NREM sleep happens during the early moments of falling asleep. As the name suggests, there is little to no eye movement during NREM sleep. Dreams are rare during this stage, your body is not paralyzed as in REM sleep, and mental activity is still "thought-like" (Bryant et al 2004). This is the stage during which some people will sleep-walk. The role of NREM sleep is to conserve energy, cool the body and brain, and promote immune function. Following NREM sleep, a person will fall into REM sleep, where rapid eye movements can be observed. This is where the majority and the most vivid dreams occur. Your body is paralyzed, which is an adaptation to prevent you from acting out your dreams. You will periodically wake up – which some researchers feel serves as a way to survey the environment (Bryant et al 2004). These mini-awakenings are typically not remembered. The Devastating Consequences Of Sleep Deprivation On Memory Revealed As you sleep, you will cycle between NREM and REM sleep four to five times during the night. By understanding our sleep patterns, it becomes evident that there is much more that happens during sleep than simply being unconscious. The broad overview given here just scratches the surface of the complex world of sleep. For all of its complexity, sleep serves essential functions. For example, a sleep-deprived person suffers from many ailments, including: A weakened immune system (Bryant et al 2004). Reduced wakefulness – microsleeps during wakeful hours after sleep deprivation (Cirelli et al. 2008). Compromised cognition. The compromised cognition experienced during sleep is all too familiar for many of us. We all know that after a poor night's sleep, we are groggy and we tend to think more slowly. When it comes to memory, the essential role that sleep plays is more pervasive than most realize. Sleep Plays a Key Role When it Comes to Your Memory There are three basic memory stages. The first is called acquisition or encoding. This is the process of collecting the information or processes that you'd like to memorize. An example could be re-reading the dates and prominent figures in a history book. This is called "declarative" memory, and is the memory of facts and information. Another example of memory is procedural memory. This is memory of how to do something. This could be anything from learning how to ride a bike or learning how to play the piano. The second step is consolidation, where the information you've absorbed become stable in your mind. It is at this stage that memories are formed in your mind. Finally, you must be able to recall memories for them to be useful. Thus, the final stage in memory is remembering something during your waking hours. Numerous studies have indicated the importance of sleep for the second stage, memory consolidation. A good night's sleep can help you recall facts and information, as well as solidify skills that you're trying to learn. Under the current scientific understanding, sleep is absolutely essential to memory. We require sleep to file information collected during our waking moments, in our minds. In doing so, we are able to recall newly acquired information (Ellenbogen et al. 2006). For example, learning the guitar requires that you memorize hand movements as well as notes. This is called procedural memory. Long term sleep has been specifically found to help with procedural memory formation (Diekelmann and Born, 2010). Sleep Shifts Info Around In Your Brain Sleep also serves to reorganize new memories. During sleep, the brain will access new information and make links with previously absorbed information. This helps segment and associate relevant parts of a complex memory to previous memories. While solidifying new information in your mind, this aids in the creativity process. This is because the brain will sometimes associate new information with old information in unexpected ways, thereby leading to novel insights (Diekelmann and Born, 2010). Scientists also believe that we "replay" our previously learned information and skills during our sleep. Experiments have been conducted on animals and humans after they have been trained on a particular task. During sleep, the same parts of the brain that were active during the training exercises, were active while sleeping as well. This is because the brain will repeat the actions during your sleep (Diekelmann 2014). Sleep is essential to memory. One study not only found poor memory recall in sleep deprived individuals, but also found that they recalled false memories. That's right, you are more likely to remember untrue information following sleep deprivation (Diekelmann 2008). In other studies, those that slept, recalled more and performed better on cognitive tests than those who stayed up. Looks like those all-nighters weren't the best idea after all. How to Use Sleep For Memory Enhancement Getting a good eight hour sleep has been shown to benefit memory (Diekelmann and Born, 2010). But what about sleep that occurs outside of your regular nightly routine, such as power naps? Good news nappers! Research has also pointed to memory improvement even for shorter naps. In a study of 29 undergraduate students, one hour naps were found to benefit factual recall. However, the memory of procedures, that is, memory of how to perform actions, was not improved. The study concluded that more complete periods of rest were necessary for the proper learning of memory (Tucker et al 2006). Even more stunning is that even very short naps seem to have a positive effect on memory of facts and information. A study compared different nap durations, as well as staying awake. They found that even a micro-nap of six minutes enhanced memory recall. The study concluded that although longer naps improved recall more than very short naps, very short naps still have significant benefits (Lahl et al 2008). Ultimately, it seems that if you're looking to improve your memory of facts and information, naps are in fact helpful. However, if you are trying to learn the keyboard, a longer sleep time is what you really need. In terms of the optimal or minimum amount of sleep that you'd need, that is still unclear. More research is needed. However, if for whatever reason you can't afford a full-night's rest, a nap might help to keep you going. How to Get a Good's Night Sleep Now that we know the importance of sleep, you may be wondering how you can get the absolute best sleep possible. After all, most of us do not have the benefit of being able to sleep and take naps whenever we'd like. That's why it's important to learn how to get the highest quality sleep during the time you have available. Here are some tips to improve your sleep and help you get to sleep faster: Only use your bed for sleeping and sex. Try to avoid using electronics, watching TV or eating in bed. This might associate these activities with being in a bed and prevent you from being able to fall asleep. Avoid long naps during the day. Although I've mentioned that naps can enhance memory, it's important to restrict napping because they can also prevent sleep. Take no more than a 25 minute nap during the day, or avoid them altogether. Remove all lights and sounds from your bedroom. Buy light-blocking curtains if necessary. Use a regular alarm clock instead of your cell phone. Do not drink or consume caffeine for at least six hours before bed. Be careful, coffee isn't the only substance that contains caffeine. Tea, soda, and even chocolate contain caffeine that you should avoid before trying to fall asleep. Memory enhancement is a tricky business and there are a myriad of ways you can do it. Whether it be food, meditation, or drugs, everyone has a preferred method. Regardless, everyone needs to sleep. Since sleep plays such a key role in memory retention and recall, you might as well make the best of it. Make sleep a priority in your daily life. Contrary to popular belief, sleep isn't for the weak. Sleep is for those with great memory improvement goals. Further Resources Memory Strategies For Your Nightlife And Why I Don't Do Lucid Dreaming 11 Unexpected Answers To Your Questions About Mnemonics Bryant, Penelope A., John Trinder, and Nigel Curtis. "Sick and Tired: Does Sleep Have a Vital Role in the Immune System?" Nat Rev Immunol Nature Reviews Immunology (2004): 457-67. Web. 18 Jan. 2016. Cirelli, Chiara, and Giulio Tononi. "Is Sleep Essential?" PLoS Biology PLoS Biol (2008). Web. 18 Jan. 2016. Diekelmann, Susanne. "Sleep for Cognitive Enhancement." Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience 8 (2014): 46. PMC. Web. 18 Jan. 2016. Diekelmann, Susanne et al. "Sleep Loss Produces False Memories." Ed. Jan Lauwereyns. PLoS ONE 3.10 (2008): e3512. PMC. Web. 18 Jan. 2016. Ellenbogen, Jeffrey M, Jessica D Payne, and Robert Stickgold. "The Role of Sleep in Declarative Memory Consolidation: Passive, Permissive, Active or None?" Current Opinion in Neurobiology (2006): 716-22. Web. 19 Jan. 2016. Goel, Namni et al. "Neurocognitive Consequences of Sleep Deprivation." Seminars in neurology 29.4 (2009): 320–339. PMC. Web. 18 Jan. 2016. Gudberg, Christel, and Heidi Johansen-Berg. "Sleep and Motor Learning: Implications for Physical Rehabilitation After Stroke." Frontiers in Neurology 6 (2015): 241. PMC. Web. 18 Jan. 2016. Lahl, Olaf, Christiane Wispel, Bernadette Willigens, and Reinhard Pietrowsky. "An Ultra Short Episode of Sleep Is Sufficient to Promote Declarative Memory Performance." Journal of Sleep Research J Sleep Res (2008): 3-10. Web. 19 Jan. 2016. Scullin, Michael K., and Donald L. Bliwise. "Sleep, Cognition, and Normal Aging: Integrating a Half-Century of Multidisciplinary Research." Perspectives on psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science 10.1 (2015): 97–137. PMC. Web. 18 Jan. 2016. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 114-126 (February 2010) Tucker, M., Y. Hirota, E. Wamsley, H. Lau, A. Chaklader, and W. Fishbein. "A Daytime Nap Containing Solely Non-REM Sleep Enhances Declarative but Not Procedural Memory." Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (2006): 241-47. Web. 19 Jan. 2016. The post How Sleep Affects Memory Improvement appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Supplements, both legal and illegal, have been used for centuries to enhance cognitive performance. For example, Sigmund Freud used cocaine to prevent fatigue. In fact, he is reputed to have written some of his most popular psychoanalytic works while under the influence. Entrepreneur and author Tim Ferriss is also known for his experiments into so-called "smart drugs". Today, caffeine is a popular choice, used as a cognitive stimulant and is often consumed in very high doses. The widely consumed regular size Starbucks coffee contains five times the amount of caffeine of a normal coffee (Mehlman 2004). Yet another common cognitive enhancer is nicotine, most commonly ingested through inhalation. It's been found that nicotine has the ability to improve cognition in areas such as attention, memory and motor skills (Heishman et al 2010). The reality is that most of us are not open to experimenting with unhealthy or illegal drugs to enhance our cognition. But with the aging population and increase in age-related memory deterioration, many are turning to out-of-the-box solutions (Mehlman 2004). Discovering a quick-fix pill that protects and even enhances memory would be both beneficial and exciting. This lusty market for an easy memory solution has been quickly filled with many drugs claiming to have amazing brain-boosting potential. Known as Nootropic supplements, these cognition-enhancing drugs make bold claims about their ability to increase their user's memory. In comes science to cut through the marketing hype and give us real answers about whether these pills really work. Before we continue, here's an important disclaimer: By offering this information in written form and by including videos of various people explaining or supporting the uses of supplements for memory, I in no way intend to validate, support or recommend the use of memory supplements. Please see your doctor before taking any substance and always, always use mnemonics. That said, if you're ready to experience the Matrix of memory supplements, take the red pill and let's get started. Huperzine A As people start to live longer, the potential for memory loss grows higher. In fact, 11% of people over the age of 65 live with Alzheimer's. As current treatments have limited effectiveness and come with severe side-effects, scientists are scrambling to find better treatments (Guoyan 2013). In their quest, a supplement called Huperzine A has been tested for potential benefits. Huperzine A is a dietary supplement. This supplement is made from an extract of a plant called "toothed firmoss", also known as Huperzia serrata. Toothed firmoss is native to India and Southeast Asia. In traditional eastern medical practices, it has been used to treat bruises, muscle strains, colds and to improve blood circulation. As with most cognition-enhancing supplements, firm conclusions about whether Huperzine A can enhance memory cannot be made. There are not many studies completed on the supplement, and those that have been conducted only included a small sample size (Yang et al. 2013). Nonetheless, the findings thus far seem promising. A recent 2013 research paper reviewed all available evidence on the efficacy of Huperzine A to improve or correct memory deterioration. The paper found that Huperzine A demonstrated positive effects on memory recall for those with memory issues. In some studies, Huperzine A even out-performed traditional treatments for Alzheimer's (Yang et al. 2013). But what are the effects for younger people without formal memory impairment? A study looked at treating self-reported memory problems in otherwise healthy adolescent students. . In total, 68 students were given either a placebo or Huperzine A. After four weeks, the student who took Huperzine A showed signs of significant memory improvement, with no side effects reported (Sun et al 1999). As data on Huperzine A is still too scant, you won't find a doctor commonly prescribing this drug just yet. What's more, the evidence is pointing primarily to Huperzine A's usefulness for short-term memory improvements (Yang et al. 2013). But don't go running to the drugstore to pick up these supplements quite yet. As with any drug, it's best to consult with your pharmacist or doctor before taking the supplement. Although Huperzine A appears to be well-tolerated in short durations, side-effects such as nauseous, epilepsy and slow heart rate have been reported. Currently, no studies have been conducted on the long-term side effects of Huperzine A. Acetyl-L-carnitine Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) is a hormone that is naturally produced in the body. Unlike many supplements and compounds, it is able to cross the brain-blood and directly affect the brain. It's function in the body includes improving neuron cell health and preventing excessive brain cell death. For this reason, scientists have considered its potential for improving cognition and memory. However, marketers have skipped a step and have gone directly to selling the supplement as a cognitive enhancer. But does the evidence support the marketing? Not so much. A major review of the use of ALC on improving cognition in Alzheimer's patients was performed by Cochrane Journal in 2003. It reviewed all of the studies which had investigated the effects of ALC on declining memory. The results were sobering. Many measures of cognition were tested and the review only found a slight improvement on a single measure of cognition. This measure was not directly related to memory. What's more, the review cautioned that even this small positive effect may be due to chance (Hudson, Sheila and Naji 2003). This review casts serious doubt on ALC's ability to improve memory, despite marketing claims. Since 2003, more studies have explored the effects of ALC on memory and cognition improvement. For example, a 2011 study analyzed ALC's effects on those with severe hepatic encephalopathy, a disease that impacts brain function. For those assessed, the study did show some improvements in cognition including memory (Malaguarnera 2011). However, this evidence is preliminary and did not directly mirror the effect of ALC on memory. Overall, the evidence for ALC is weak. More information is needed before the cognitive benefits claimed by ALC manufacturers can actually be proven. Phosphatidylserine Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a naturally-occurring compound that is consumed as part of a normal diet. It can be purchased as an over-the-counter supplement in many grocery stores and pharmacies. PS is a supplement with a long history. Initially, there was great interest and many scientific studies were conducted on PS derived from cow brains. After fears of mad cow disease became more prevalent, this supplement fell out of favor (Zchut et al. 2013). https://youtu.be/ZcPFpx-WrPQ In the mid-1990s, soybean-derived PS became available. This safer alternative once again garnered attention from the scientific community (Zchut et al. 2013). So far, findings from both the cow-derived and soybean-derived PS have shown promise for improving memory. For example, in a study of over 388 cognitively-impaired older adults, PS was effective in improving word-list recall. What's more is that positive effects have been observed for normally-aging adults. In a study of 149 normally aging adults, PS was compared against a placebo in a variety of memory tests. This study found that the PS-taking adults were better able to coordinate face recognition tests as compared to the placebo group. However, their results were comparable to the placebo-taking participants for various memory recall tests (Villardita et al 1987). Despite the appearance of a few well-designed studies demonstrating positive results, the overall picture seems less exciting. A review produced in 2003 found that the effects of PS on memory were inconsistent and modest, at best (McDaniel, Maier and Einstein 2003). In the same review however, scientists did underline that the results were positive enough to warrant further research. As a result, since 2003 more studies have been conducted. Most recently, a study published in 2014 investigated the efficacy of a omega 3/PS combo supplement on memory enhancement. They recruited 122 healthy seniors who voiced complaints about their memory (but not memory deterioration, such as dementia). After 15 weeks on the drug, the study found a significant improvement in the memory of its members. This memory improvement was identified by participants and was measured objectively through a memory test (Vakhapova 2014). A definite bonus for PS is that it seems to be a safe supplement. In the same 2003 review cited earlier, no adverse effects were reported (McDaniel, Maier and Einstein 2003). As always however, it's best to consult with a pharmacist or physician, especially if you consume other medications or substances. Bacopa Bacopa is also known as Brahmi and is a natural herb in India. It is a small plant with oblong leaves and light purple flowers. It has a long history of use in Indian medicine. Traditionally, it has been used in the treatment of disorders including anxiety, intellect and poor memory. Bacopa is currently marketed in Western countries as a memory enhancing supplement. Until recently, the only published studies on the effects of Bacopa had been tested on animals. Since the early 2000s, more studies on humans have been conducted. One of the earlier human studies included 84 volunteers, who took either a placebo or Bacopa. These volunteers were healthy and between the ages of 40 to 65 (Roodenrys et al. 2002). The participants were given three months worth of Bacopa supplements (or placebo, depending on their group). They were tested on multiple occasions during these months for various tests of memory (Roodenrys et al. 2002). It was found that Bacopa-taking volunteers did not show any improvement over their placebo-taking partners on most memory tests. However, those who took Bacopa did experience a significant improvement in their ability to retain new information (Roodenrys et al. 2002). This study has been followed up by more research exhibiting positive results. For instance, a study conducted in 2008 compared the effects of Bacopa versus a placebo over 90 days. Included were 62 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 to 60. When compared to the placebo group, takers of the Bacopa supplement saw significant improvements in their working memory performance. Much like PS, the drug was also well tolerated without many real side effects (Stough et al. 2008) With positive evidence mounting, a systematic review of Bacopa studies was published in 2012. The review pursued all randomized controlled trials on the cognitive effects of Bacopa. This meant that they only included trials with a placebo, which neither the researchers nor the patient knew about (Pase et al 2012). The results showed that Bacopa was beneficial for improving cognitive function related to attention, and especially, speed of attention. The paper suggests that Bacopa can reduce the time needed to complete a task by around 18 ms (Pase et al 2012). The researchers were hesitant to say that the evidence strongly favored Bacopa for memory improvement. Although individually, studies do show improvements in different aspects of memory, the overall significance of those effects were unclear. However, since Bacopa seems to lack any severe side-effects, it might be worth a try – with your doctor's approval of course. Vinpocetine Ever see a periwinkle flower? It's that cute flower with that dazzling blue hue. You might be surprised to hear it's also the plant from which another commonly marketed brain-booster is derived. Vinpocetine was developed in Hungary, and is currently used in mainstream medicine. However, it's use in medicine is not directly related to memory. Instead, it has been scientifically proven to increase blood flow to the brain (McDaniel, Maier and Einstein 2003). But can it increase the memory juice flowing through your mind? What seems to be certain is that the improved blood flow to the brain does have positive effects on overall cognition. For example, in a study conducted on dementia patients, 87% of vinpocetine patients improved – as compared to only 11% of placebo patients (Manconi et al. 1987) However, experiments on the effects of vinpocetine directly on memory are lacking. In one of the only studies looking at the effects vinpocetine on Alzheimer's, no benefit was observed (Thal et al. 1989). Therefore, the jury is still out inasmuch as the benefits of vinpocetine are concerned. However, vinpocetine seems to have minimal risks associated with it as well. In Conclusion As you can see, definitive research into the link between supplements and memory enhancements is still in its infancy. Despite bold claims made by these supplement marketers, this article demonstrates that overall evidence is far from complete and decisive. The number one thing that people can do to enhance and protect memory is to follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly. However, for those looking for an edge, above and beyond diet and exercise, some of these supplements may be worth considering. As amply repeated in this article, it is very important to seek medical guidance when trying new supplements. Although most of these supplements have not shown severe side-effects, they may react with other medications. What's more, none of these supplements have been studied for their long term effects. For all we know, these may actually lead to memory degradation with years of use. Any use of these supplements should be restricted to no more than three months at a time. At the very least, these supplements offer a fruitful field of research. There is at least enough evidence to show that these brain-boosting supplements deserve more research. It's up to you to decide if you'd like to take part in the experiment. Further Resources Chan A, Remington R, Kotyla E, Lepore A, Zemianek J, Shea T "A vitamin/nutriceutical Formulation Improves Memory and Cognitive Performance in Community-Dwelling Adults without Dementia." The journal of nutrition, health & aging 14.3 (2010): 224-30. Web. 4 Jan. 2016 Hudson, Sheila A, and Naji Tabet. "Acetyl-l-carnitine for Dementia." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Reviews (2003). Web. 4 Jan. 2016. Heishman, Stephen J., Bethea A. Kleykamp, and Edward G. Singleton. "Meta-Analysis of the Acute Effects of Nicotine and Smoking on Human Performance." Psychopharmacology 210.4 (2010): 453–469. PMC. Web. 1 Jan. 2016. J.K. Blusztajn, U.I. Richardson, M. Liscovitch, C. Mauron, R.J. Wurtman. "Phospholipids in cellular survival and growth" I. Hanin, G.B. Ansel (Eds.), Lecithin: technological, biological, and therapeutic aspects, Plenum Press, New York (1987), p. 85 Web. 4 Jan. 2016. Mcdaniel, Mark A., Steven F. Maier, and Gilles O. Einstein. ""Brain-specific" Nutrients: A Memory Cure?" Nutrition (2003): 957-75. Web. 5 Jan. 2016. Malaguarnera, Michele, Marco Vacante, Massimo Motta, Maria Giordano, Giulia Malaguarnera, Rita Bella, Giuseppe Nunnari, Liborio Rampello, and Giovanni Pennisi. "Acetyl-L-carnitine Improves Cognitive Functions in Severe Hepatic Encephalopathy: A Randomized and Controlled Clinical Trial." Metabolic Brain Disease Metab Brain Dis (2011): 281-89. Web. 4 Jan. 2016 Mehlman, Maxwell J. "Cognition-Enhancing Drugs." The Milbank Quarterly 82.3 (2004): 483–506. PMC. Web. 1 Jan. 2016. Pase MP, Kean J, Sarris J, Neale C, Scholey AB, Stough C. The cognitive-enhancing effects of Bacopa monnieri: a systematic review of randomized, controlled human clinical trials. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2012; 18(7): 647-652. [PubMed] Sun Qing-Qi, Xu Si-Sun, Pan Jian-Liang, Guo He-Ming, Cao Wang-Qi. "Huperzine-A capsules enhance memory and learning performance in 34 pairs of matched adolescent students" Acta. Pharmocol. Sun. (1999) 601-603. Web. 4 Jan. 2016. Vakhapova V, Cohen T, Richter Y, Herzog Y, Kam Y, Korczyn A, D, Phosphatidylserine Containing Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Improve Memory Abilities in Nondemented Elderly Individuals with Memory Complaints: Results from an Open-Label Extension Study. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2014;38:39-45 Villardita C, Grioli S, Salmeri J, Nicoletti F, Pennisi G "Multi-centre clinical trial of brain phosphatidylserine in elderly patients with intellectual deterioration" Clin Trials J, 24 (1987), p. 84. Web. 4 Jan. 2016 Yang, Guoyan, Yuyi Wang, Jinzhou Tian, and Jian-Ping Liu. "Huperzine A for Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials." PLoS ONE (2013). PLOS ONE. Web. 4 Jan. 2016. Zchut, Sigalit, Yael Richter, and Yael Herzog. "The Effect of Soybean-derived Phosphatidylserine on Cognitive Performance in Elderly with Subjective Memory Complaints: A Pilot Study." CIA Clinical Interventions in Aging (2013): 557. Web. 5 Jan. 2016. The post Can You Supercharge Your Memory With These Popular Supplements? appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Auguste Deter was only in her late 40s when she started showing signs of dementia. Her husband Karl, cared for her for some time. Eventually, he could not cope with her hallucinations and forgetfulness that often kept him up all night. When Auguste was 51, Karl placed his wife into a psychiatric institute. There, she spent the rest of her short life, eventually dying at the age of 55. Auguste is now acknowledged to be one of the most well known patients in medical history (Muller et al. 2012). The doctor who examined her, Dr. Aloysius Alzheimer, named the disease for which she is acknowledged as the first identified patient. At that time, he called it "presenile dementia," but later his colleague Emil Kraepelin gave the condition the name by which we know it now. It's been over 100 years since Alzheimer's disease was first described, and yet, no cure has, as of yet, been found. However, with an increasingly aging population, it has become more pressing than ever to find effective treatments (Giacobini and Becker, 2007). In the absence of a definitive cure, this post and podcast will provide important information about Alzheimer's. The disease can be all-consuming for those afflicted, as well as their caregivers. Understanding how it works and how to care for that person may help to relieve stress for those trying to cope. Who Does Alzheimer's Affect? Alzheimer's is a disease of old age, and generally, affects those over the age of 65. However, a rare variation of the disease, early-onset Alzheimer's, will affect those as young as 35. The prevalence is higher in females than males, although females do tend to live longer, which may explain this trend (Keene, Montine and Kuller 2015). It's important to realize that although Alzheimer's affects older adults, it is not part of normal aging. Right now, the overall prevalence of Alzheimer's is between five to seven percent throughout the population (Keene, Montine and Kuller 2015). As we age, the likelihood that we will be affected by Alzheimer's nearly doubles every decade. That is, by the ages of 95-99, your chances of having developed Alzheimer's increases by 50%. What Causes Alzheimer's? The cause of Alzheimer's is, as of yet, not completely understood (Ginter et al. 2015). We do know that genetics plays a role in early-onset Alzheimer's. This form of the disease is rare, and affects people under the age of 65. What genetics fails to fully explain is the prevalence of Alzheimer's in aging adults (Keene, Montine and Kuller 2015). The links between risk factors and Alzheimer's have not fully been proven. However, in studies the following has show to possibly increase our risk of Alzheimer's: Hypertension (high blood pressure) during midlife Having Type 2 diabetes Obesity Living an inactive lifestyle Having had a brain trauma Having had exposure to secondhand smoke If you have a family history of dementia and Alzheimer's, the chances of developing it yourself is much higher. People with a first-degree relative (parents or siblings) who developed dementia after 65, but before 85, have a higher risk factor. In fact, they are 10 to 30 times more likely to develop dementia themselves (Keene, Montine and Kuller 2015). Alzheimer's and Memory Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia, which is a degeneration of cognitive function. One of the earliest and most distinctive aspects of Alzheimer's is its affect on memory. The first warning signs a doctor and other caregivers will look for is memory impairment (Wolk and Dickerson 2015). The patient will typically go through selective losses in short-term memory. For example, a person suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's may find themselves getting lost on familiar paths. They may forget recent events and repeatedly ask for the same information. It's important to keep in mind that normal aging does accompany some memory deterioration. However, unlike normal aging, the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's comes in the way of normal daily activities. The table below compares normal memory loss associated with aging to memory loss associated with Alzheimer's (Leifer 2006). Family members may notice these types of memory declines and others, such as repeatedly asking for the same piece of information. As the disease progresses, memory becomes severely affected. Memories of the person's life are impacted. A patient will forget important life events, occurring at a particular time and place early on in their disease (Wolk and Dickerson 2015). Moreover, factual memory, such as the words used for objects and concepts, deteriorates as time goes on. A doctor may test memory by asking patients to learn and recall a series of words or objects. Recall is asked for both immediately and at a delay of five to ten minutes. They may also ask them about important historical events or artifacts in popular culture (Wolk and Dickerson 2015). The brain of a normally aging person will compensate for the memory loss due to normal aging. The cognitive decline of a normally aging brain will not be severe enough to affect their ability to complete everyday tasks. Nor will the cognitive decline affect a person's ability to live independently (Wolk and Dickerson 2015). However, a brain with Alzheimer's will decline quickly. This can vary, but the average survival rate after diagnosis is between eight and ten years. Some survive for as long as 20 years after the diagnosis (Wolk and Dickerson 2015). What Alzheimer's Looks Like As Alzheimer's progresses, the afflicted person will become more and more disoriented. Alzheimer's patients will increasingly be unable to: Speak or write coherently. They will have trouble finding the right words for the right situation. Understand what is said or written. Recognize familiar places. Plan how to take multi-step actions. Carry out multi-step actions, such as cooking. Concentrate. Make logical choices or decisions. For example, dressing in a outfit with oddly matched colors and patterns. As the disease progresses into later stages, the person will start to exhibit more personality and emotional changes. These can be particularly stressful. They may include: Increased hostility or increased passivity. Hallucinations or delusions. Disorientation. Incontinence. These changes might be due to chemical imbalances in the brain. They may also be due to the individual's increasing fear and confusion because they do not understand their own surroundings. Eventually, an Alzheimer's patient will literally forget the more fundamental tasks, such as how to move. They will become immobilized and require assistance for bathing, eating and dressing. Treatment options There is no cure for Alzheimer's. Current drug treatments only slow the disease in the short-term, for no longer than a year. However, for patients with early stages of the disease, medications can improve their cognitive function. These benefits may need to be weighed against the medication's side-effects as the disease progresses. In addition to medication, there are behavioral treatments available. For example, speech therapy can be combined with medication to help patients with troubles in this domain. Caring for an Alzheimer's Patient Caring for people afflicted with Alzheimer's is a very cumbersome task, and difficulties range from financial to emotional stress. In a study carried out in the UK, nearly two-thirds of people caring for Alzheimer's patients were family members (Beinart et al. 2012). When dealing with Alzeheimer's, it's important to seek support from extended family members, friends and your community. Ask your doctor to refer you to a local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Many changes will need to occur in an afflicted person's home and life due Alzheimer's. They will likely be unable to drive, and will need monitoring and help with basic tasks. These include things such as cooking and taking medications (Alexander and Larson, 2015). Other tips for helping people with Alzheimer's include: Simplifying choices, such as wardrobe choices, to reduce their indecisiveness and confusion. Having familiar objects or photos may help with a patient's disorientation with time and space. Keep distractions and noise to a minimal so as not to agitate the patient. Speak clearly, with short and concise sentences to increases your chances of being understood. Encourage daily exercise, such as daily walk, to maintain physical health and tire the patient out. This will help prevent them from wandering and getting lost. Avoid major changes in their environment. Try to be patient when waiting for responses and actions to be performed. Employ safety measures in the home, such as locking medicine cabinets, removing electrical appliances from the bathroom, installing grab bars in the bathroom, and setting the water heater below 120ºF Install locks on the outside of the doors, so the patient cannot unlock and leave the house. To prevent the person from getting lost, employ the use of a "safe return program" provided by the Alzheimer's Association. They offer 24-hr assistance. Try to implement a daily routine, but remain flexible. In the mid-to-late stages of the disease, it may become impossible to care for the person at home. They may require skilled health care attention and placing the patient in a nursing home may be the best option. Most importantly, remember that as a caregiver, you require care as well. Using respite services, such as adult day care and hiring home aides when possible is a great way to recharge. Caring for a person with Alzheimer's is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to ensure that your mental and physical health is tended to. Emotionally and mentally, it's important to try to focus on the positive. Try to enjoy the remaining qualities and activities with your relative instead of only remembering what you've lost. Remind yourself that you are doing your best in moments when you feel overwhelming guilt or fatigue. Future Hope for Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's disease is a tragic sickness, and poses an enormous financial burden on society at large. Paying to care for patients with dementia and Alzheimer's is predicted to cost 1.2 trillion dollars by 2050. The good news is that there is increasing evidence that Alzheimer's may be more of a lifestyle disease than previously acknowledged. Except for rare cases of early-onset Alzheimer's, which have a strong genetic component, lifestyle may determine your likelihood of developing it. That is, maintaining a healthy diet and doing regular exercise can decrease your chances of developing Alzheimer's. Due to the strong link between blood-sugar levels, some scientists have even started calling Alzheimer's "Type 3 Diabetes" (De la Monte and Wands, 2008). Not everything in life is within our control. However, living a healthy and balanced life are ways to counteract the effects on cognitive function, especially as we age. For our purposes, the question is … Can Mnemonics And Memory Palaces Help? It's too soon to tell, but I highly recommend watching this TEDTalk with Kasper Bormans for an introduction to what might be possible: Further Resources and Reading Nelson Dellis spoke on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast about his experiences with Alzheimer's and his efforts to combat the condition. Check out Extreme Memory Improvement to learn more. These memory tips from Dr. Gary Small may not be the ultimate prevention against Alzheimer's, but they are going to serve you well. Give it a listen. I recommend subscribing to Preserving Your Memory Magazine, put out by the Fisher Center For Alzheimer's Research. And for more information, follow-up on the following articles: Alexander, M., Larson, E. B., Patient information: Dementia (including Alzheimer disease) (Beyond the Basics) Up To Date (2015). Online. Beinart, N. Weinman, J., Wade, D., & Brady, R. "Caregiver Burden and Psychoeducational Interventions in Alzheimer's Disease: A Review." Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders EXTRA 2.1 (2012): 638–648. PMC. Web. 15 Jan. 2016. De la Monte, Suzanne M., and Jack R. Wands. "Alzheimer's Disease Is Type 3 Diabetes–Evidence Reviewed." Journal of diabetes science and technology (Online) 2.6 (2008): 1101–1113. Print. Keene, C. D., Montine, T. J., Kuller, L., H. "Epidemiology, pathology, and pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease" Up To Date (2015). Online. Müller, Ulrich, Pia Winter, and Manuel B Graeber. "A Presenilin 1 Mutation in the First Case of Alzheimer's Disease." The Lancet Neurology (2012): 129-30. The Lancet. The Lancet. Web. 13 Jan. 2016. Leifer, B. P. "Alzheimer's disease: Seeing the signs early." Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners(2009) 21: 588–595 Web. 13 Jan 2016 Ginter, E., V. Simko, D. Weinrebova, and Z. Ladecka. "Novel Potential for the Management of Alzheimer Disease." Bratislava Medical Journal BLL (2015): 580-81. Online. Giacobini, E and Becker, RE. One hundred years after the discovery of Alzheimer's disease. A turning point for therapy? J Alzheimers Dis (2015): 12, 37-52 Wolk, D. A., Dickerson, B. C. "Clinical features and diagnosis of Alzheimer disease" Up To Date (2015). Online. The post 3 Things To Remember About Alzheimer's And Memory appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

How would you like permission to skip school for the rest of your life as a student? Or how about the ability to quit your job and do whatever you like for the rest of your career? Well … I'm not sure I can help you with that. But what I can do is give you some tips on how to live an interesting life. Here are six of them: 1. Be The Driver Of Your Education There are two main forms of education: * External Driven * Self Driven The first is the kind of education where you show up when you're told and sit where you're told. You even eat when you're told. Sounds kind of like prison, doesn't it? Prison? It Might Even Be Worse! Not only do you have all kinds of pressures on your time. You've got people telling you what to learn. Think about that: What. To. Learn. Oh no, no, no. No and a thousand times no. That's not the path to an interesting life. What you want instead is to … Be The Boss And Manager Of Your Own Intelligence Let me tell you a story: I dropped out of high school in Grade 12. There's a lot of detail surrounding this decision and some of it ain't pretty. But sticking to the facts (and just the facts), I thought school was such a drag that I decided to stay home and read Collier's Encyclopedia. Each morning I would leave home. But instead of getting the battered yellow school bus into town, I would hike up into the mountains. For months I experienced the Fall transform into Winter and then Spring from up above the highway where I would wait for my mom's car to pass by. It sounds like something out of Hitchcock's Psycho, I know, but as I was watching the highway waiting for mom to go to work, I was listening and learning. No, not listening to Heavy Metal. Not pop. Not even soft rock. Instead, I was listening to the CBC on my fat yellow Walkman. At that time, Peter Gzowski, a.k.a. Mr. Canada, was the host of Morningside. Over the course of the year, I got virtually a Ph.D. in Canadian culture, history, politics, literature and the arts. I also heard interviews with important people from around the world. True, a bear might have mauled me while I was up there, and I did have a few close encounters with moose and deer. But the danger was worth it. And after a few hours of Morningside, I would head down the mountain and make hot chocolate. With a steaming cup beside me on the coffee table, I would sit in the same rocking chair I was nursed in and read the Encyclopedia. It was like being nursed all over again, this time by the knowledge my parents had invested in when they ordered the Encylopedia one volume at a time. These days we have Wikipedia, but back then, if you wanted to know about the world, it cost a lot of money. I remember my mom talking about saving for the Encyclopedia year after year. She cut dozens of coupons from the newspaper so she could save more and complete the set. It took about three years and after that, she kept up with the yearly updates for at least another three. And this was all before I was old enough to read anything more complicated than Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. (Come to think of it, that story is rather complex …) It was a lot of fun reading through Collier's Encyclopedia. And educational. When I finally did return to complete high school, I knew so much about the world that … School Was EVEN MORE Boring! But that was fine. Because I knew about all kinds of books I wanted to read. So whenever I could, I would still skip school and take out a notebook I'd kept and look for all the books I'd learned about in Collier's. I would go to the Kamloops Public Library and check them out. While everyone else was spending weeks struggling through A Separate Peace by John Knowles, I was reading: * The Stranger by Albert Camus * 1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell * Demian by Herman Hesse * The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka * Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevski … and much, much more. The point of all this is that I was practicing, without even realizing it, the art of self-driven education. Of course, I'm not suggesting that anyone quit school, skip school or do anything like that … But I am suggesting that you won't get nearly as intelligent as you deserve to be if you learn only what you're told. So What Can You Do? If you're told to read a Shakespeare play, read the play and follow it up by reading another. Or look up a book about Shakespeare and read a play by one of his contemporaries (I recommend the zany John Webster). If you find math difficult and boring, find a book on mathematics that has mostly words. See if you can tackle the idea of math from another angle. Khan Academy has math courses you can take as well, something I couldn't enjoy. But you can. And when you find an author or an online teacher you like, stick with them. You can learn a lot by seeing how people develop over time. You'll also learn a lot about successful people, which brings us to … 2. Reverse-Engineer People You Admire (Just So Long As They Aren't Creepy Weirdos Or Serial Killers) The world is filled with people who have either lived or are living exciting lives. That doesn't mean they led easy lives. There's no such thing and living without challenges would probably be even more tedious than high school. What you want to look for when studying the biographies of other lives are: * How they explained their desires, goals and wishes * What actions they took to do great things * How they coped with suffering * What they did to keep themselves expanding * How they dealt with their historical circumstances * Who they knew and what they did with their friendships and relationships There's so much more to pay attention to, but these are a good start. Why Do This? Because life starts to get serious when you act and think about who you are and what you want to do. And to truly develop a unique profile and create the space needed in your mind to become whoever it is you're going to become … You Need The Ability To Think And Feel The Ideals And Sorrows Of Others And Dream Up Your Preferred Version Of The World So You Can Make It Real When you study others, you'll experience a diversity of ideas that will train you to pay attention to what everyone around you is doing. It will also help you get past the negative habit so many have of rejecting differences. Remember, there are no differences as such. Everything is part of the world. And as long as that is true, everything in the world is part of you. And that means everything and everyone applies to you and your life. If you don't like reading or care to develop a re-reading strategy, you can also watch biographies. And for a super-interesting exercise, you can pick a single actor and watch as many films starring that person as possible in chronological order. You can choose actors who are good at portraying different characteristics and actors who just seem to be playing themselves over and over. Either way, you'll notice patterns of consistency and difference. And like a wine expert, you'll start experiencing all kinds of different shades of flavor you never noticed before. Next, move from hanging out with books and movies to … 3. Toss Social Inertia From Your Life Forever Whether you're an introvert or extrovert, it's easy to fall into the trap of seeing the same people all the time. That's no way to revolutionize your life and keep it revolutionizing. So as you're finding interesting biographies and adapting ideas to your life, HUNT for advanced people with whom you can share an environment. (But not in a creepy way …) Find the people who have the characteristics you want and enter their circles. Don't be creepy about it. Just identify someone and ask if you can have 20 minutes of their time to ask some questions. Then ask them who else you should talk to continue your education. Do this and you'll have an unending stream of new contacts and interesting people around you. As a result, you'll experience SO MUCH MORE in your life. And you'll always have interesting things to say to the new people you continue to meet. Plus, if you visit these people in their homes, you instantly have more Memory Palaces. You can also meet them in cafes or restaurants you've never visited to increase your awareness of your city and its offerings. All this will help you develop … 4. The Most Important Skills In The World Communication, for example. There's no point in being more interesting if you're no good at speaking. At some point, you've got to learn to control how words come out of your mouth. You get that practice by … (gasp!) speaking with people. You can also attend Toastmasters meetings, start a podcast, speak your mind on YouTube and develop yourself as a writer. To get good at writing, start with the high school newspaper, writing letters to the editor, regularly updating a blog or just by posting on Facebook to explore your ideas. By studying all those successful people and learning to communicate with them, you'll also be orienting on success. This will help ensure that your life isn't controlled by external circumstances. You won't fall prey to the strange idea that certain times are good and particular periods of history are bad. Here's the only thing about time you need to now: Times Change … Your job is to adjust. To be flexible. To be adaptive. To be agile, aware and if necessary, defensive. Above all, you want to develop awareness of everything around you that you possibly can. Because at the end of the day … The way you succeed has little to do with the ways of the world. It has to do with how you react to the way the world changes. And you always want to ask … What advantage can I take of the present state of change? It's a compelling question and the best way to prepare for the times when you'll need to ask it is to … 5. Live Like A Scientist Scientific living means being measurable. You can measure everything down to what you do to be productive and make good use of your timeTOR's Post, to measuring your testosterone levels. Measuring your activities will help you see where you're strong and where you need to improve. The best part is that, because you're studying so many other people, you'll see how you can do more of what works, and how you can do things differently. Track everything in a journal, diary, Google Spreadsheet, in Evernote or whatever you prefer. Use whatever tool makes it easy for you to see where you are, where you've been and where you're going. By doing this, you can develop processes and systems for your life. For example, I have systems that tick along no matter what happens on CNN: * Writing every day * Putting out a weekly podcast * Emailing Magnetic Memory Method members 1-2 hours a day * Theatre group once a week (when in season) * Other regular courses * Monday and Friday mornings at the gym And the best part of all this activity and tracking is that … It's Easy To See The Holes In The System For example, my activities are all fine and dandy, but looking them over, it's clear to me that I'm missing out on music. Now I know that I've got to schedule more time for my memorize Bach on bass habit. Popping Bach into my memory used to be a huge part of my week, and now it's faded almost to nil. The important point here is that you want to develop "sticktoitiveness." The ability to stick to it is pure gold. So many of us (including me) get so distracted by the next bright shiny object that we need systems to keep ourselves on track. Sticking with the program is important because without consistency, we never wind up doing anything long enough to see results. And at the end of the day … It's All About The Results That's why it's so important to stop and check in with yourself and your stats. And stop searching for the easy path. That's one of the quickest ways to fail. In reality, finishing a course you've started or completing a project from beginning to end IS the easiest way to get from point A-Z. Success happens when you bring precise implementation to the game. I'm talking about dedicated practice, which is as true to memory development as it is to any task. Stick with whatever you're doing. Experiment with it. Study every angle and explore every corner. Do that and you won't need memory techniques. The stones will be set and the things you've learned will be impossible to forget. Finally, there is one point that rules supreme: 6. Have Confidence In Yourself Not only do you need to have confidence in yourself. You need to have confidence in the things you're doing. This is why, for example, completing courses and finishing books you've started is so critical. We live in memory. We thrive or fail by what we've done in the past. The more good things we've done, the more positive experiences we have to build upon. That said, if you have weaknesses in your past, perhaps even terrible experiences … There Is No Reason To Let The Darkness Control Your Future If you just make the shifts needed to put yourself in alignment with others, your unique desires and the habits and patterns needed to achieve success, all the pieces will fall together. You'll see the patterns you noted in the lives of others emerge in your own life. You won't let yourself get bullied out of accomplishing your dreams. You'll be a transformer. An influencer. A true human being who cannot help but live an interesting life. Further Resources How To Improve Concentration And Memory Buddha-Style The post How To Live An Interesting Life appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.