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How to pimp your study recall using contextual memory

Human memory formation is a bit unconventional. We are reminded of this by our daily memory tasks. Have you ever walked laps of a block because you couldn’t find your car?

The question “Where is my car?” doesn’t prompt the answer from your brain. But adding extra information helps, like holding your keys in your hand, or asking “Where did I park my car, at lunchtime, when I was hungry and the street was full of cars?”

Prompting memories with extra information is a symptom of contextual memory formation. We don’t remember facts by “brain address,” but because we know other words, images, smells that link to it. So our brains are like a wiki, without a search function: we have to find the page that links to the memory we want.

Even without extra psychology training, we can figure out simple ways to take advantage of context and memory associations when studying:

• Study in the right place

Study surgical technique in the operating theatre. Study medical treatments in the hospital. Study anatomy in exam situations. Next time you need to access those memories, they will be easier to “find.”

• Visualize and draw diagrams

Associating a new fact with an image gives a different path to access that memory. The more cues you have, the easier it will be to recall.

• Use a routine when studying

Having good study hygiene may help your brain to group memories together in the same place, so that they are less likely to get lost to recall. Things like studying in the same way, or answering the same questions about every condition should help train your brain.

• Study somewhere unusual

In contrast, whatever you learn on the Eureka Skydeck will probably stay with you for a long time, simply because it will be associated with that unusual context.

• Associate new knowledge with something you already know

This also gives your brain an alternative path to a memory. The more paths there are, the easier recall becomes.

• Be careful of unexpected associations

Random thoughts can be associated with your memories. It will be harder to retrieve a thought filed next to, “I’m never going to remember this” or, “I’ll leave for dinner as soon as I remember this one fact. Hmmm - curry.” For this reason, it is better to try to study in places and at times where you can concentrate.

• Talk yourself into remembering facts

When you are stuck and panicking, and the facts just aren’t accessible, then you need to talk yourself into recall. Like the car park example above, enough extra information may prompt your recall.

For example:

Not “The complications of cholecystectomy are … uuhhh. Ummm. Ugh….”

But “Potential complications of cholecystectomy are … ummm. Well, cholecystectomy involves removal of the gallbladder, and normally via a laparoscopic procedure…. “

For those interested in reading more about memory tricks for studying, try here or here.

What are your favourite tricks for pimping your recall? Please leave a comment with your suggestions.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net