Method of loci

The method of loci (Latin locus " place ", " place ") is a mnemonic learning method and association technique. It is easy to learn and is used due to their effectiveness of virtually all memory athletes. It can also be used for extensive learning material, as better pictures engraved on the memory as mere information such as text or numbers. They also benefited from the associative function of the human brain.

The technique

Method

To master this technique, very little effort is required. Anyone who tries to remember a sequence of things without auxiliary techniques fail fast; with the help of the loci technique, the learning content is sorted " encoded ". Its own place in the loci technique is reserved for each term, ie the variables are created, which can be assigned with different content. These variables are in a parent, a fixed structure, so that it becomes possible to comply with the exact order in the reproduction.

This fixed structure, a well -known route (eg the daily work or school ), but also a space. It does not necessarily have to be a real space in the second case. One can create his own space itself, but this must be done in the greatest possible detail to allow sufficient anchor points are available as variables. In both variants, it is necessary to select very unique places where later to remember things can be " stored ". In addition, you can assign these places even numbers.

Then you can place it on the prepared mentally places to watch the end in the form of vivid images. Traditionally, only a concept / image is stored in a place / space.

Some modern teachers believe it is particularly beneficial when you first linked several things on an association image and then stores mentally. So would " save space " and recall the bargain even easier.

You can use the path or the room again and again, almost new " describe " when the old knowledge has been forgotten. Without repeating the images in my head are getting spongy until they are eventually forgotten.

Possible courses

• Apartment houses
• Public Places
• Day in day out to work
• Museums
• Level of computer games
• Own body

In the Middle Ages churches were popular just in the Order of Preachers.

Presumptive origin

The idea of ​​the method of loci goes back to the ancient Greeks back (maybe it was even earlier ). The scientists then had to learn by heart, since books were expensive and rare as manuscripts much more. Also orator in ancient times used this technique to learn their speeches by heart. Cicero step while mentally from the area of the Forum in Rome. He describes the method in his work " De oratore ".

Alleged inventor is Simonides of Ceos. He lived around 500 BC and was a noted poet and orator. He probably had nothing to do with later conceptions of a memory palace. In antiquity, the legendary him ascribed method of loci was so common that you simply of " the method" spoke. According to legend, Simonides has come up with the idea for the method of loci, as he left his house for a short time at a celebration of Scopas and during his absence the house collapsed. Nobody survived, an assignment of the crushed body was apparently no longer possible. Simonides had, the only survivor, identify the unrecognizable homemade. He visualized the scene before the collapse, in order to visualize the respective residence for persons and recognized his success that it is easy for the person to play organized inserted into a spatial linkage information.

Memory palace

A so-called memory palace describes an extended and quite challenging application of the method: A magnificent, spacious building, like most closed, is used for a broad anchoring information in all fields of knowledge. The idea of the palace exercises because of its inherent freedom and the appearance of a completely self -created, walk the world a great fascination for the contemporary reader.

However, it must be made clear that such a palace could only be handled also useful if the places sufficient distinctness is attached. This is in the common idea of ​​a Renaissance castle rather not. Secondly, the desired goal of a walk- world does not take place under the roof of a building, the mere, for example, forest-like connection of several created paths ( routes ) can achieve at least the same effectiveness. Should be noted also, that in order to overcome the visualization threshold at which the commission of an artificial world relaxed and can unconsciously done, without getting lost in the effort, for most people, a prior increase in spatial ability, for example, by mnemonic exercises ( images on places ), is necessary. This initial hurdle is likely to deter many interested parties.

Literary mentions

A certain popularization learned the idea of ​​a memory palace by the appearance in Thomas Harris ' novel Hannibal.

The (somewhat misleading ) fascination with the conventional idea of the palace to many, perhaps, in a place of Terry Pratchett book " Sourcery " ("The magic hat " ) are modeled: The Sourcerer Coin, endowed with great power, contracts, bored of the world back into a created his own universe, where he walk according to his ideas and can work. Other literary mention is the method of loci in Nicholas Christopher's book "A Journey to the Stars". Here also the genesis by Simonides is described. Also the British series "Sherlock " combines the method of loci with two characters. Once the ingenious but repulsive Charles Augustus Magnussen and once to the memory genius Sherlock Holmes. The character of the two people is also evident in the presentation of their "memory palace ".

• Mnemonics