#loci method

The Method of Loci, also known as the Mind Palace Technique or the Roman Room System, is a technique for memorizing information by placing a mnemonic image for each item to be remembered at a point along an imaginary journey. In order to recall the information, one must remember the order and placement of the content they have paired with their location.

When I was in High School, I had to create a demonstration of how the Loci Method worked. I printed pictures of the words I was assigned and placed them around the room, I then had my classmates take a specific path around the room and had them try to memorize the words by remembering the location I had placed the printed images. It had worked out pretty well and I got a good grade on the assignment.

Recently I have been researching how to memorize information better, and I came across the “Loci Method” also known as the “Memory Palace” method of memorization. The Loci Method has been around for thousands of years, and there is evidence it was used as a primary method of memorization by Ancient Greeks and Romans. 

This method heavily relies on your familiarity with particular places, or locations, such as your home, apartment, or elementary school. The location you choose should be one you are able to thoroughly picture inside of your mind. 

As you picture the location, you assign each distinct location one of the items you need to memorize. This method can be used to memorize both related terms, and unrelated terms. It is particularly helpful for items that need to be memorized in a particular order. Simply assign the items on your list to items or rooms as you approach them in your mind. The first thing you would see in the room gets linked to the first item.

The loci method works even better when you combine different senses. For instance you imagine walking into the kitchen and smelling pumpkin pie. Or you imagine walking through your neighborhood and feel the sun shining on you.

This method can be particularly effective for memorizing vocabulary and new languages.

Memory Palace Technique, a Tool for Memory Athletes

The memory palace is a very ancient technique, which dates from the ancient Greeks and Latins. Orators in the Roman Senate used this technique to remember the concepts they had to develop in public. To be effective, this technique requires that the places in the palace be always the same and always in the same order. (more…)