Our brains can recognize and attach meaning to multiple forms and combinations of stimuli: the taste and color of baked bread, the sound and feel of crumpled newspaper, the smell and location of a favorite Italian Restaurant. Our minds are capable of making accurate identifications when a single isolated stimulus is presented, however, memories become increasingly indelible when multiple stimuli such as colors, shapes, sounds, smells, tastes, touch, positions, emotions and language are included.

Unfortunately information we have to remember is almost always presented as words printed on a page. While language is one of the most important aspects of learning, it is only one of the many skills and resources available to our minds. Mnemonics are memory tools that allow you to use your whole mind to store and recall information. By coding language and numbers in striking images, you can reliably code both information and the order or structure of information.

Most people are already familiar with mnemonics such as "righty tighty, lefty loosey" to remember which direction to turn a screwdriver or K-I-S-S to recall the axiom "Keep It Simple Stupid". Those wanting to maximize memory retention can go beyond learning mnemonics to creating their own.

Mnemonics can be written in rhyming verse form or can follow cues from a familiar journey or room. Associating information with shapes, sounds, even emotion and location can aid in memory recall. You can do the following things to make your mnemonics more memorable:

1. Use positive, pleasant images. The brain often blocks out unpleasant ones
2. Use vivid, colorful, sense-laden images - these are easier to remember than drab ones
3. Use all your senses to code information or dress up an image. Remember that your mnemonic can contain sounds, smells, tastes, touch, movements and feelings as well as pictures.
4. Give your image three dimensions, movement and space to make it more vivid. You can use movement either to maintain the flow of association, or to help you to remember actions.
5. Exaggerate the size of important parts of the image
6. Use humor! Funny or peculiar things are easier to remember than normal ones.
7. Similarly rude rhymes are very difficult to forget!
8. Symbols (red traffic lights, pointing fingers, road igns, etc.) can code quite complex messages quickly and effectively

Reachel Bagley

Reachel Bagley is the Interactive Marketing Specialist for Agilix Labs, makers of GoBinder.

She received her undergraduate degree in Marketing at the University of Utah and her MBA from Brigham Young University.