visual memory

[cjpa77]

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A motivational speaker told our class that in vet school, he had to develop a visual memory to work and do class. Our parasitoly professor told us that the class is hard and has lots of memorization, but when she took parasit, she could visually recall the pages with the relevant info. Can a visual memory be developed? I think it is an innate thing, i really wish i could.

 

[almostglue]

My problem is I can visualize the page, but not what it says. On a test I can know exactly where the answer to is from the notes, 'it's on the bottom hand left side of the third page of that lecture' but it doesn't help because I don't know what it says. I just know where it is. Which may almost be worse... lol.

 

[Angelo84]

My problem is I can visualize the page, but not what it says. On a test I can know exactly where the answer to is from the notes, 'it's on the bottom hand left side of the third page of that lecture' but it doesn't help because I don't know what it says. I just know where it is. Which may almost be worse... lol.

I do this too. It's really frustrating!

 

[wivet2011]

My problem is I can visualize the page, but not what it says. On a test I can know exactly where the answer to is from the notes, 'it's on the bottom hand left side of the third page of that lecture' but it doesn't help because I don't know what it says. I just know where it is. Which may almost be worse... lol.

You forgot to say "what color the answer was written/ highlighted in and what all the other details around it are"! Faulty photographic memory is what I call it!

 

[almostglue]

You forgot to say "what color the answer was written/ highlighted in and what all the other details around it are"! Faulty photographic memory is what I call it!

nice. good point. and I'm glad to know I'm not alone!

 

[Capella]

My problem is I can visualize the page, but not what it says. On a test I can know exactly where the answer to is from the notes, 'it's on the bottom hand left side of the third page of that lecture' but it doesn't help because I don't know what it says. I just know where it is. Which may almost be worse... lol.

Ditto for me. This must be a left brain thing. You know the pathway you would follow to obtain the information, you just can't visualize what is actually there on the page.

And the way I memorize figures is just by drawing them. Like they say, the more senses you engage while learning: visual, tactile, auditory, vocalization - the easier it is to remember.

 

[Emio]

good question, cpja, i have no idea if one can be developed. i'm happy to say i have one, and yeah, it gets me through a lot of exams. i dunno, try! maybe while you're studying, close your eyes and see if you can recall that diagram or page of notes without looking back at it... i'd imagine that eventually you can get pretty accurate and retain it for a decent amount of time.

 

[cjpa77]

good question, cpja, i have no idea if one can be developed. i'm happy to say i have one, and yeah, it gets me through a lot of exams. i dunno, try! maybe while you're studying, close your eyes and see if you can recall that diagram or page of notes without looking back at it... i'd imagine that eventually you can get pretty accurate and retain it for a decent amount of time.

interesting. thanks for the suggestion. And thank you to you non visual memory people, makes me feel better about myself. I once bought a book on speed reading that I never read because it was too boring. maybe a visual memory will work out better.

 

[Angelo84]

Ditto for me. This must be a left brain thing. You know the pathway you would follow to obtain the information, you just can't visualize what is actually there on the page.

And the way I memorize figures is just by drawing them. Like they say, the more senses you engage while learning: visual, tactile, auditory, vocalization - the easier it is to remember.

I agree with this! Writing things out helps--this is why I refuse to use a computer in class. What works best for me is talking myself through my notes (with the door shut so I don't drive my roommate nuts!)

Maybe there is an auditory memory?

Good luck!

 

[QTkitty]

You forgot to say "what color the answer was written/ highlighted in and what all the other details around it are"! Faulty photographic memory is what I call it!

HAHAHAHA I totally do this too! I even try to color code my notes so that I might remember seeing them on the page while I'm in an exam and I get sooo frustrated when I can see the page it's on, where it is on the page and what color it's in, and sometimes even the letter it starts with, but can't get the word for the life of me!

 

[almostglue]

I agree with this! Writing things out helps--this is why I refuse to use a computer in class. What works best for me is talking myself through my notes (with the door shut so I don't drive my roommate nuts!)

Maybe there is an auditory memory?

Good luck!

We took this test our first year of vet school that was supposed to tell us about our learning styles. There's all kinds... auditory, tactile, visual, etc. Mine recommended I make numbered lists because I'm a math dork and I can remember numbers. It really helps me. The auditory people in our class try and get together and talk things out together.

If you google 'learning styles' there's a ton of info out there... maybe some of it will help?

 

[ratbandit]

My favorite is how I seem to inadvertantly memorize the slide number for all of my histologic sections...why??

I can photographically recall pictures, but not words. I usually take the diagrams from the powerpoints, enlarge them, and then retake the notes directly onto the diagram (if I have time). I bet a lot of people in vet school have complete photographic memories - I sure wish I did!

 

[rexosaurus]

close your eyes and see if you can recall that diagram or page of notes without looking back at it... quote]

see, i can remember the diagram like the back of my hand, but words always manage to escape my mind! so when i study i write things over and over, and try to make pictures out of them because i remember it better (then i can see the diagram in my head!) it works, i guess i also have a faulty photographic memory!

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

I have no visual memory. That's why anatomy and radiology were so hard for me. I can tell you everything in painful detail about that muscle, that nerve, that bone lesion...but I can't physically point it exactly where it is without a great deal of studying/effort. If I'm going to remember how to properly do a jug stick on a horse, I read about it - if I just watch someone do it, or look at pictures, I cannot remember it - no joke. Seems counterintuitive but its true. I'm a weirdo. I learn by reading. That's why I'm good at Pharmacology, Clin-Path, Bacti, etc. God help me come surgery 🙄 I'd love to have a better visual memory....

Good luck. Zajac's parasit can be a lot! 😉

 

[aggiegolf]

Your parasitology professor was right. It is hard! 😱

Let me know ASAP when someone comes up with a visual memory system for Latin, people!

 

[ShelterGirl]

HAHAHAHA I totally do this too! I even try to color code my notes so that I might remember seeing them on the page while I'm in an exam and I get sooo frustrated when I can see the page it's on, where it is on the page and what color it's in, and sometimes even the letter it starts with, but can't get the word for the life of me!

Thank goodness there are others out there with this affliction? gift? whatever. 😳

 

[bovine]

I have a photographic memory but the trouble is I always forget to take the lens cover off!😛

 

[wivet2011]

I have a photographic memory but the trouble is I always forget to take the lens cover off!😛

OMG... that's a great way of putting it! 😆

 

[HeartSong]

There's a process called image streaming. I haven't actually tried it out, but it seems like it would be worth a shot. It's supposed to help make connections between your left and right hemispheres. Not exactly designed to increase your visually memory, but it would probably help. Here's a bit of info on it. http://www.enchantedmind.com/html/creativity/techniques/image_streaming.html

 

[bass4booty]

This can be learned. Go to class. Do not take notes. Use active listening the entire time. Sift through to find the nuggets. When a nugget goes on screen, repeat it in your head three times and focus on it. Then, at a later point, review this in your head during your drive home, a run, whatever. I do a daily rewind in my head of what I learned at the end of each night when I take a bath or a shower. It helps.

On a side note, I have to question the efficacy of an educational system focused on memorization and regurgitation onto a bubble sheet. Nobody cares about those life cycles of those bugs considering that 2 drugs can kill 90% of them. I think schools need to develop problem solvers, not memorizers. I know that many in my class could ace every test, but some will struggle mightily when there is an actual case to be solved.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

I think schools need to develop problem solvers, not memorizers.

Remeber, however, that you can't solve the problem if you don't memorize the info...things like what drugs to use, their side effects, how they can be used, the symptoms of various disorders, which values on a hemogram correspond to which disorder, all of the bones and their connections for ortho, etc....and life cycles of bugs are actually important in terms of peak transmission times, etc. Just to play devil's advocate 😉

 

[HeartSong]

Remeber, however, that you can't solve the problem if you don't memorize the info...things like what drugs to use, their side effects, how they can be used, the symptoms of various disorders, which values on a hemogram correspond to which disorder, all of the bones and their connections for ortho, etc....and life cycles of bugs are actually important in terms of peak transmission times, etc. Just to play devil's advocate 😉

Aww, but see a problem solver knows the information. I guess there's the whole connotion thing with memorization, but there's the question of can something be remembered without having been "memorized"? (Sorry, I love playing with words. 😛) It's like the difference between knowing someone and knowing the facts about someone. I may know a lot about a celebrity but I don't know them like I do my best friend. You get to know drugs, diseases, body functions, etc. you don't have to memorize the facts you just remember the facts. To me memorizing is a process where remembering is something that occurs natually as you get to know something/someone. And you're more likely to be able to come up with facts that you didn't learn just because you'll know what makes sense to be true for something you know rather than something you just know about.

And the terms memorization and problem solving aren't mutually exclusive. While memorizing to some extent must be part of problem solving, problem solving isn't part of memorizing (unless you're trying to solve the problem of how best to memorize the information). So when you produce a problem solver you are actually producing someone who can memorize/remember information plus they know how to apply that information and deduce information that they were never taught. My professors love to ask questions on exams that were not things taught in class. You have to put information together to come up with the answer.

Ha, see what happens when you take a class called "Learning to Learn"? But I agree 100% that the school system (from pre-k on up) needs to be totally revamped. There are few if any people who disagree. The problem is no one really seems to know how. There are small steps being taken, experimental schools trying out new methods and so forth. But look at how little importance we place on education. Teachers are some of the lowest paid professionals, no one wants to pay money for their child's education ... they want the government to take care of it and then complain about high taxes. Some people will pay $5 a day for a cup of coffee but they complain that they can't afford the school supplies for their kids and someone else needs to take care of it. Maybe the first step is to change the public's attitude toward education.

Wow .... that was long and way off topic.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Wow .... that was long and way off topic.

but an interesting explanation!

I suppose it does come down to what people mean when they say "memorize"

To me, to memorize means to commit to memory so you will remember. I don't believe in memorizing trivia for trivia's sake, but a large degree of memorization (i.e. learning, retaining, and remembering) of facts is needed in order to correctly go down the problem-solving path. I do agree totally that more problem solving needs to be incorporated into the entire span of education, but not to the extent of leaving out facts.

For example, gotta memorize the normal heart rates for various animals in order to a) recognize tachy/bradycardia and THEN b) problem solve as to why it is occurring.

 

[HeartSong]

For example, gotta memorize the normal heart rates for various animals in order to a) recognize tachy/bradycardia and THEN b) problem solve as to why it is occurring.

Great example, and one that can have a problem solving aspect without most people even realizing. You don't just problem solve the problem but also if there even is one.

Let's say you have a 4 month old teacup chihuahua with a heart rate of 175. Now if you just memorized the numbers, you would probably say 175 was way out of the range of 70-120. Afterall, you (hypothetically) never memorized specifically the expected heart rate range of a 4 month old chihuahua. But you think a little about how a cat's heart rate is faster than a dog's which is faster than a cow's. Ah, size has something to do with it. So maybe since this chihuahua is so much smaller than an average dog, that has something to do with it. You also vaguely remember learning that a younger animal's heart rate is faster. So now it seems okay that a heart rate of 175 can be normal in this dog. There, you've just problem solved. Even though you didn't learn specifically about baby chi-chis, you did learn enough information that you can put together and determine that its heart rate should be faster than "normal."

Of course for something like this you would want to consult some notes or someone with more experience. But when you get more experience of your own you'll stop needing to consult as much because you go from just knowing about something to actually knowing something because you've dealt with it. Or if you go to another country and encounter an animal you've never heard of before, you can use values of an animal that is similar in physiological make-up to deduce what might be expected in that animal.

I love thinking about it in this way. To me numbers in parentheses next to species' names is pretty boring. But to relate them to one another, consider the factors that go into making those numbers, consider factors that will make the number go outside of that range and still be considered normal ... now that's just down right fun.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

I must be nitpicky (only because I'm taking a Cardio class right now) hehe

So maybe since this chihuahua is so much smaller than an average dog, that has something to do with it.

Size of dog has basically nothing to do with heart rate, contrary to popular belief and what it on the internet. There were one or two studies done that showed a difference, but they were never reproduceable, and other showing no difference were. It's funny how it makes so much sense, but in reality, not true. Threw me for a loop when my prof showed me the stats!

 

[HeartSong]

😀 Yay, yet another reason to be a problem solver and not a memorizer. I can't count how many things I was taught in more than one class where each professor and text contradicted each other, especially in the area of behavior but even in more measurable, concrete areas. Even various studies that were performed in equally well designed manners. If I simply memorized and didn't think for myself, I wouldn't know which one to believe. But if I problem solve or, better applicable in that situation, critically think about the material I'll have a better understanding of it and why there is contradiction. Then once I get into practice, if I encounter something that goes against everything I've ever been taught, I won't have a complete meltdown but actually be able to analyze real life situations and contrast them what I've been taught in school. And as I gain experience, I'll allow that information to have more significance than any "facts" written in my notes or textbooks because real life is more real than theory.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

each professor and text contradicted each other, especially in the area of behavior

Oh, man tell me about it.

Behavior is more like a "religion" than a "science" anyway....everyone has their own opinions, and certain things work better for certain people (or in this case, dogs)....it is one of the few subjects where there are few, if any, FACTS involved because each case is so different with its own special considerations. Behavior is really is a uniquely, almost wholly, problem-solving discipline - which is why it is so complex!

actually be able to analyze real life situations and contrast them what I've been taught in school

"What?? The cat has cancer and it's NOT lymphoma?! OH NOES! What do I do??" 😉

 

[HeartSong]

Behavior is really is a uniquely, almost wholly, problem-solving discipline - which is why it is so complex!

Which is probably why I love it so much! There's actually a lot of facts involved, it's just that I'm the only one who knows them and no one else will listen to me.