How to use your senses to magnify your memory and recall ability

When we perceive our environment, all our sensory organs work together.  All of us have our preferences when it comes to the senses.  And this is also the reason why each of us experiences the world in a very personal way.  For the most part, we are blissfully unaware of this taking place.   However, scientists make distinctions between three types of perception preference’ visual (eyes), auditory (ears) and haptic (touch).

You can try a simple test to find out for yourself which group you belong to.  Ask a friend to give you a paper with 10 words written on it.  Memorise as many words as possible, and then remove the piece of paper.  Try to recall the words on the paper and note how many words you got right.  Now repeat the test with 10 other words, which your partner reads aloud to you, then with 10 more words presented to you as drawings.  Then compare the number of points you scored each time  the test on which you scored the most points is where you strength lies.

Once you have refined and strengthened your perception, you can apply your strengths to your full advantage.  It is even better if you also make an effort to strengthen your weaker senses.  If you can do that, you are in a position to absorb and retain information much faster and more reliably than you previously thought possible. 

Let’s say you wish to learn a new foreign language.  If you perceive information best with your eyes (most people fall into this category) you can  record the foreign words and its meanings in English in a media, like a tape or mp3 player as an aid to learning.  This will help you train your hearing at the same time.  There are a few special exercises you can do to strengthen your preferred form of perception.  For example, imagine a dollar note or coin, it’s something that you use every day.  Try to describe the design of each side of the note or coin and the form  of the print or minting along the edge.  Then compare what you have just described to the original.  It won’t be easy but this will train your eyes for details. How do you train your vision?  Look at a photograph.  Carefully look at he picture.  What do you notice?  Which angle did the photographer take the shot? Are there shadows?  Do the shadows fall to the left or right?  Can you tell what is in the foreground and what is in the background?  You can ask yourself these questions out  loud and answer them.  Then take a blank piece of paper and make a quick sketch of the picture without looking at it.  This procedure is especially effective, because different sensory channels are simultaneously involved – sight, speech and motion or activity.

Many new knowledge or information can be learnt by carrying out the necessary activities.  This is the reason psychologists advise us to memorise new facts not only in our minds but also through actions.  Action or activity can be done through writing, talking, singing or drawing.  That is why many people find that they remember what has been said in a lecture better if they take notes during the lecture.  You don’t have to write down every word the speaker said, the main ideas or key words will do  You can even draw pictures to illustrate a point.  Remember to check on your notes filling in any areas you think might draw a blank in future revision.