Mind Expanding Techniques

In this page I am going to show you how you can improve short term memory using the peg memory system. Actually it is not 100% correct to say that your short term memory is going to improve because you actually engage long term memory during the process.
 
Though this memory system is ideal for remembering a list where sequence matters and usually such information is useful for a short period. This is the reason I chosen the short term memory improvement term.

In brief words the peg method is used to memorize a list. Lets say that you want to memorize a list of 13 items. The first thing you must do to improve short term memory is to create a peg list. Write down the numbers 1-13 and think of one peg word to associate it with each number. The peg words must be easy to visualize. Check the following example:

Example

1 gun

2 goo

3 tree

4 store

5 hive

6 sticks

7 heaven

8 gate

9 mine

10 men

11 leaven

12 elf

13 teen

I just thought that list. Of course this isnt my list because mine is not in English. This memory method is irrelevant of the mother tongue and it can be used with every language.

So, lets see what Ive done here. Its very easy to remember the peg words now because as you pronounce every number the associated word comes to your mind immediately. For instance, its very easy to remember the word gun when you mentally say one.

You can remember as many items as you need by just finding more peg words and associating them to more numbers. As you wont forget how to count, you wont also forget the associated words.

Ok this was the first step. The second step of the method is to create visualizations between the objects that you want to remember and the peg words.

For example, lets say that the first object of the list is mushrooms. Then you are going to create a mental image following the already known and good rule of the unusual, exaggerating, unreal and silly visualizations. I remind you that with this way you create strong associations between the object and the peg word.

In our example you can think an army of giant angry mushrooms holding guns and fire in the sky. Yes I know that it is ridiculous, but you wont forget that picture. Similarly you think about every other object in the list you want to remember. I am not going to give a full example about how to create unusual and exaggerating visualizations; you can find some examples in the linking method page.

The peg system has many variations. Above we discussed the number-sound mnemonic technique. Another popular and effective way that you can use the peg system to improve short term memory is to create a number-shape peg list.

The difference with the number-sound is that the mental images do not sound like the numbers but they have a similar shape. For example, for the number one you can think a stick or a pencil, for number two you can think a swan or snail, for number three a bird flying away etc. The mnemonic technique remains the same, only the peg list changes.

Another popular variation of the peg memory system is the alphabet technique. This is used for remembering longer lists as it uses the letters of the alphabet and mental images that sound like them. So just to name a few pegs, check the following example:

A ray

B bee

C sea

D dean

E eel

And so on

Well, this is the peg system that can help you improve short term memory. Remember that the peg system is a memory strategy and memory strategies require practice and repetition in order to implement them fast. First of all create your peg list and learn it well. The peg words should come instantly to your mind as you count.

Although the peg system is easy, it has a disadvantage; it is limited. You cant use it to remember a large volume of items. Though there are other more complicated systems, like the Major System, that offer limitless memorizing potential.

Related Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mnemonic_peg_system