Good memory and study books? Details inside.

[DrGachet]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am a psych grad and been working on research on and off for a few years but I'm going to be taking two-three courses now, one in medical school, and a couple other ones that are heavy on memorization too: one is a biology course which requires lots of visual memorization and another is a literature/poetry one which requires a good verbal memory.

I looked at a few other threads here but I did not find a good list of books on memorization techniques and good studying habits. There are so many of them out there, it's confusing.

All I remember is that last time I had a full course load it was quite difficult and pretty soon I ended up procrastinating, staying up late, wasting time, etc. So I want to go into this much better prepared. Since yesterday I have been trying different things, like trying to memorize a list of 15 objects in a short time, etc. It's been quite random.

The main problem is that I can't just randomly pick and apply some method to everything I'll need to study. In other words, if there is a lesson that I need to study, it may be most effective to use a particular technique to memorize the outline (mostly like based on real understanding of the topic and associating it with other lessons) versus the particular details or names or figures...or sequence of historical events (method of loci effective here.)

I like a book that is based on good research and perhaps puts these memorization techniques in proper context.

Thank you for all your help. I figured you guys in this section of the forum must be experts on memorization. 🙂

 

[Ugen]

Check this book out:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001Y35JI0/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title

About the first 20% is dedicated on the science of memory, with the remainder of the book talking about specific practical methods for different types of required recall.

I read it and 2 others because it got favorable reviews in comparison to some of the other similar books on memory. I think this one would be the best of the three for what you're looking for.

 

[Isoprop]

Did it help you?

 

[Ugen]

Did it help you?

I don't start medical classes until later this month but it certainly helped a lot in memorization heavy classes while double majoring during senior year.

 

[robu058]

I am a psych grad and been working on research on and off for a few years but I'm going to be taking two-three courses now, one in medical school, and a couple other ones that are heavy on memorization too: one is a biology course which requires lots of visual memorization and another is a literature/poetry one which requires a good verbal memory.

I looked at a few other threads here but I did not find a good list of books on memorization techniques and good studying habits. There are so many of them out there, it's confusing.

All I remember is that last time I had a full course load it was quite difficult and pretty soon I ended up procrastinating, staying up late, wasting time, etc. So I want to go into this much better prepared. Since yesterday I have been trying different things, like trying to memorize a list of 15 objects in a short time, etc. It's been quite random.

The main problem is that I can't just randomly pick and apply some method to everything I'll need to study. In other words, if there is a lesson that I need to study, it may be most effective to use a particular technique to memorize the outline (mostly like based on real understanding of the topic and associating it with other lessons) versus the particular details or names or figures...or sequence of historical events (method of loci effective here.)

I like a book that is based on good research and perhaps puts these memorization techniques in proper context.

Thank you for all your help. I figured you guys in this section of the forum must be experts on memorization. 🙂

Most SDN users including myself feel that the best way to memorize anything in medical school is repetition, whether reread the material over and over again, or as in my case, write it on a board or a piece of paper many times. If i was to memorize the aforementioned 15 words, I would have written it on a whiteboard many, many times. Believe me, you will remember every single one of them after the 20th time you're writing it down.

 

[Helperman]

I am a psych grad and been working on research on and off for a few years but I'm going to be taking two-three courses now, one in medical school, and a couple other ones that are heavy on memorization too: one is a biology course which requires lots of visual memorization and another is a literature/poetry one which requires a good verbal memory.

I looked at a few other threads here but I did not find a good list of books on memorization techniques and good studying habits. There are so many of them out there, it's confusing.

All I remember is that last time I had a full course load it was quite difficult and pretty soon I ended up procrastinating, staying up late, wasting time, etc. So I want to go into this much better prepared. Since yesterday I have been trying different things, like trying to memorize a list of 15 objects in a short time, etc. It's been quite random.

The main problem is that I can't just randomly pick and apply some method to everything I'll need to study. In other words, if there is a lesson that I need to study, it may be most effective to use a particular technique to memorize the outline (mostly like based on real understanding of the topic and associating it with other lessons) versus the particular details or names or figures...or sequence of historical events (method of loci effective here.)

I like a book that is based on good research and perhaps puts these memorization techniques in proper context.

Thank you for all your help. I figured you guys in this section of the forum must be experts on memorization. 🙂

Hey there,

I agree with the member who mentions about repitition.

I have myself tried many books on memorization skills but they were of no use.

Try this method, its known to be effective for a lot of medstudents + i benefitted myself too

1. Pre - read before the lecture (20 mins max and write down 10 sentences about the topic)

2. Attend the session, lecture, demonstration etc and focus + record it on your recorder.

3. Immediately after 15 mins of finishing that class or session, read your notes, handouts or the material

4. Post - read :Listen to the recording and add notes or focus hard to understand

5. Now write 10 - 15 toughest questions you can come up with

6. Revise in the weekend and try to answer them

7. Revise in a months time

8. Revise before the exam

Also note that this method will not work if you are not good at time management. For that, I recommend this book: Eat that frog.

Its a consize book which will help you a great deal.

Once you get into a good habit and know your style of learning, youl do just fine without the effort of "pure" memorization.

Hope it helped.

-Helperman

 

[MCAT guy]

Most SDN users including myself feel that the best way to memorize anything in medical school is repetition, whether reread the material over and over again, or as in my case, write it on a board or a piece of paper many times. If i was to memorize the aforementioned 15 words, I would have written it on a whiteboard many, many times. Believe me, you will remember every single one of them after the 20th time you're writing it down.

Efficiency matters as much as effectiveness.