memory

Memory loves meaning

When we try to understand something deeply, it's important to ask why it's true and how it relates to other things we know. I think this helps us to organise the information in our minds and make connections between different pieces of information. This is known as "elaborative rehearsal" in psychology, where we try to relate new information to our existing knowledge. And when we understand the connections between different pieces of information, we are more likely to remember them in the long-term, because our brains can retrieve related information more easily. In my case, this is why it's more effective to learn a concept or idea in context, rather than simply memorising a list of facts.


I have found it helpful to break down complex ideas into smaller, more manageable parts and then focus on understanding each part before moving on to the next. I think one effective way to improve our ability to understand and remember information is to practice active learning techniques, for example, summarising information in our own words, creating mind maps or diagrams to visualise connections between ideas, and then testing ourselves regularly to reinforce our memory. What about you?