Retrieve Memories - 3 Techniques for Short and Long Term Retrieval
by AlexDOften when we forget something it becomes frustrating to remember that thing — whether it is where the car keys are, someone's name, or an item on a list. This article will discuss how to use the mind to locate these memories. These techniques are effective for both long-term and short-term memories.
Comparison
Compare what the memories were most like in properties to something similar. Often the mind categorises similar items and concepts close together. Take some time to listen to a conversation some of your friends have, be observant and you'll pick up on some interesting things: Person 1: "let's have pizza for lunch". Person 2: "good idea, the prices are good at Pizza Place". Person 3: "Guess how much I paid for this new watch? I got it at discount"…
Our mind processes are associative in nature and memories relating to something similar can often be triggered when we focus on the similar items instead.
- Think of a similar item or concept.
- Reflect on its properties and attributes.
- This process will trigger related thinking processes and memories.
Retrogression
Retrogression involves playing a movie clip in your mind's eye to backtrack to the events that occurred before the event that has been forgotten.
- Regress to the previous few items on the list, or the last few things you did before you lost an item, or the first time you met the person whose name you have forgotten.
- Picture each of the preceding events in sequence and in great detail.
- The sequence will often trigger the event that was forgotten.
Retrogression can also be used when we go to a particular place that we have been before to trigger related memories. You can use each of the senses, such as particular feelings, sensations, sounds and smells to regress to a previous event that is anchored in those same sensations.
Mind Meditation
Meditation can often help to calm the mind and to allow memories and thought processes to flow in a natural sequence. Often when we strain the mind and focused too much on remembering or on thinking about a particular thing our natural thought processes become disrupted.
- Bring the feeling of frustration or not being able to remember into your main focus.
- Imagine the problem shrinking and becoming smaller until it fades altogether.
- Letting go of it for a few minutes allows the mind to refresh and to have more success with retrieving memories after this meditation.
sambit said
September 13, 2008 @ 3:07 am
As a kid when I was misplacing anything and was unable to remember it, I was praying to God seeking his intervention. After a deep session I used to feel tired and usually falling asleep. Unusually most often I was able to remember where I had kept it when I got up. I used to thank God for it and the process has remained with me.Allen Papapetrou said
September 16, 2008 @ 2:41 am
Nice article, Alex!I have a friend who professes a poor memory. However, given contextual clues he has an amazing memory. We've taken to calling it context memory.
He often forgets the detail of prior conversations. I'll mention just a few key words and the whole conversation pops back for him.
Another variant, reminds me of "Memory Meditation". He'll struggle to remember. We talk about something different and a few minutes later he'll remember.