One of the finest way to remember something is chunking. This article summaries how you can use this to keep things on memory!
Imagine you are waiting at a traffic signal.
Suddenly you notice a pretty girl looking out from a bus and Inadvertently, you blush at her. She notices it and she smiles back. She then shouts out her number and signals you to call. Within a couple of seconds, the signal turns green and the bus leaves.
957825417
Try and remember her number, you have just 5 seconds!
Can you recall her number? Likely not.
Sorry my friend, you've lost her.
However, cupid has decided to help you in a parallel universe.
957 - 825 -417
Try again, you have 5 seconds!
The chances are that you have memorized the number and got yourself a girlfriend( In a parallel universe of course🤣)
Why is it easier to remember the number when the number is arranged in triplets?
On average, the working memory has 4 slots into which the information is held.
When the working memory is overworked with excess information( like the 9 digits), it tries to free up the space either by simply forgetting the information or by cramming the information into long-term memory. This crammed memory is weekly encoded with minimal associations and fall prey to forgetting within moments.
However, when the information is divided into meaningful chunks (as the triplet of numbers), each chunk occupies a slot and working memory is not overworked. A relaxed working memory retains information long enough to be strongly encoded into long-term memory and allows you to remember the information for a very long time. This method is called "Chunking"
When learning a topic, it is worthwhile to breakdown the information into meaningful chunks/ categories. Actively breaking down a topic into 4-5 subtopics with 4-5 pieces of information under each sub topic will be much easier and more rewarding than blindly cramming the whole chapter in one go. Moreover, this also allows the brain to form "the big picture" with strongly encoded long term memory.
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