The brain, I complain, fails in ways I find arcane.
October 9, 2005 9:31 AM Subscribe
How can I recode low-level brain functions?
I've got really quite good storage in my brain...it's a jumbled mass of all sorts of trivia. Data retrieval is so-so...I remember all that trivia for the most part, but if my wife sends me to the store with a list of 10 things, I'll bring back 12, with only 8 of what she wanted.
What I want is someone's method of retraining my brain to have better structure...clear categorization of "keep thing long term" and "forget this by the time I sleep next" would be excellent. As well, some sort of rational compartmentalization so that I can do things like learn a programming language from reading a book and still have that data available when I sit down at the keyboard.
Has anyone developed a set of methods and training to improve this, that doesn't hinge on memorization-without-understanding (like some circus freak memory master)?
I've got really quite good storage in my brain...it's a jumbled mass of all sorts of trivia. Data retrieval is so-so...I remember all that trivia for the most part, but if my wife sends me to the store with a list of 10 things, I'll bring back 12, with only 8 of what she wanted.
What I want is someone's method of retraining my brain to have better structure...clear categorization of "keep thing long term" and "forget this by the time I sleep next" would be excellent. As well, some sort of rational compartmentalization so that I can do things like learn a programming language from reading a book and still have that data available when I sit down at the keyboard.
Has anyone developed a set of methods and training to improve this, that doesn't hinge on memorization-without-understanding (like some circus freak memory master)?
Unfortunately, the best way to remember something is to care a lot about it. I say "unfortunately" because it's hard to make yourself care about something.
posted by nebulawindphone at 11:17 AM on October 9, 2005
posted by nebulawindphone at 11:17 AM on October 9, 2005
Depends probably on how your mind works. I'm highly spacial, so I actually "feel" information being "pushed" toward the back or back-right part of my brain when I'm trying to remember it long term. Short term I just write it down. Same with scheduled, wone-time events. While remembering, I have the sensation of lots of sub-words in the center or back of my head that eventually come together with what it is I'm searching for. You could always try duplicating these on yourself.
posted by lorrer at 11:56 AM on October 9, 2005
posted by lorrer at 11:56 AM on October 9, 2005
I have similar problems (excellent at trivia, memorizing for school, but have no idea how to store a list of stuff to do, or remember what it was I needed to buy). I read "Your Memory : How It Works and How to Improve It" by Kenneth L. Higbee, and it was extremely helpful. It contains mnemonic tools that work as filing tools for information in your brain. Highly recommended.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1569246297/qid=1128887761/
posted by anonymoose at 12:58 PM on October 9, 2005
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1569246297/qid=1128887761/
posted by anonymoose at 12:58 PM on October 9, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by abcde at 10:07 AM on October 9, 2005