10 Days to a Sharper Memory by Russell Roberts

Author:Russell Roberts [THE PRINCETON LANGUAGE INSTITUTE AND RUSSELL ROBERTS]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780446564755
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2009-09-25T16:00:00+00:00

Open the Memory Tool Chest: Using the Link and Substitute Word Tools

Just like loci, your link and substitute word memory tools can be used to help you perform everyday tasks. For example, let's say you want to memorize the fifty states in alphabetical order. This is a perfect job for the link and substitute word tools. For example, in alphabetical order, numbers 12, 13, 14, and 15 are the “I” states: Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa. To use the link and substitute word tools, first devise a substitute word or phrase for each state: Ida-hoeing (Idaho), Ill-noise (Illinois), Indian (Indiana), and I-owe-ya (Iowa). Next, link each of these together and visualize the link: see Ida hoeing while an ill noise sounds, while in the background are a group of Indians saying to each other “I owe ya.”

Another way to use the substitute words tool is to think of pictures that recall each state for you. In the above example, potatoes represent Iowa, Chicago's Wrigley Field for Illinois, Indianapolis 500 for Indiana, and so on. You could then link these images together, such as having potatoes being delivered to Wrigley Field in Chicago while racing cars zoom around the infield.

No matter how you use the tools, however, remember that, first and foremost, the images must have meaning for you. So if your brother lives in Illinois, then use him as a substitute word/image for the state, and think of potatoes being delivered to him while racing cars zip around his front yard.

Here's another example using link and substitute word tools. For example, say that you are helping your child prepare for a test on remembering the order of the U.S. presidents. Presidents number 11 through number 14 are James Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, and Franklin Pierce. Substitute words for each one are:

Poke (Polk)

Tailor (Taylor)

Fill-more (Fillmore)

Pierce (Pierce)

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