MEMORY PALACE

BACKGROUND

Sternberg (1999) defines memory as ‘the means by which we draw on our past experiences in order to use this information in the present’.

Atkinson & Shiffrin (1968) created the Multi-Store Model of Memory to elucidate the encoding, storing and retrieving processes of the human memory. There are three stores; sensory memory, short term memory (STM) and long term memory (LTM).

Sensory memory refers to the most instantaneous form of memory you have. After this information has been held on long enough it then proceeds into the Short-Term Memory where it must undergo a ‘rehearsal process’ for it to be stored in the Long-Term Memory.

A common misconception about Long-Term Memory is that it is similar to a recording device, that we retain information somewhat objectively, for later use.

However, research suggests that this isn’t the case, that human memory is fallible and that every time we are remembering something, we are actually re-creating the memory in our brains (Bartlett, 1932).

This can create tiny inaccuracies in the memory and highlight the possibility that our memories may not always be faithful records to our past (Alcock, 2018).

A mnemonic is a memory device that can assist learners in recalling large pieces of information in the form of lists eg steps, phases, characteristics etc.

A number of academic studies highlight the effectiveness of mnemonics in learning new and/or complex concepts (Miller, 1967). (Butcher, 2000) reports that mnemonic techniques are effective in learning because they impose meaning and structure to material that otherwise would be unstructured or less meaningful.

A significant number of studies have demonstrated a particularly useful application for students’ ability to study (Levin, 1993; Manalo, Bunnell & Stillman, 2000; Miller & Obara, 2017; Thompson et al., 2017; Mastropieri, Sweda, & Scruggs, 2000; Muha, 2000).

The use of mnemonics can provide students with a “technique for taking a mental snapshot of information to be learned” (Seay & McAlum, 2010).

The method of loci, otherwise known a memory palace, is a mnemonic memory device coined by the Ancient Greeks. It requires converting words into mental images and associating them with a specific location. It has been researched as an effective memory aid for a number of years (Roediger, 1980).

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McCabe (2015) conducted a study consisting of 57 college undergraduate students to evaluate the effectiveness of the Method of Loci. Following an assigned reading on the Method of Loci, the participants showed a significant improvement in their recall of 12-item grocery lists from pretest to post-test.

Another interesting area of mnemonic research is in combining the Memory Palace technique with Virtual Reality (VR) (Legge et al., 2012; Huttner & Robra-Bissantz, 2017). Krokos, Plaisant and Varshney (2018) as well as Vindenes, de Gortari and Wasson (2018) independently developed and tested virtual Memory Palaces. 

(Huttner & Robra-Bissantz, 2017) conducted a study consisting of 78 participants randomly assigned a virtual environment presented on a laptop or a head mounted display (VR). The participants were instructed to use the Method of Loci to recall 5 lists of words. Results concluded a 5-7% increase in the average scores of the virtual reality group than the opposing desktop group.

Virtual Memory Palaces ameliorate some of the problems of traditional Memory Palaces. Namely: having no archive of past memories and struggling with a non-vivid memory.