Memory

Image via WikipediaAn example of mnemonics to remember how the moon looks beginning after new moon

The Celtic tribes who lived over 2,000 years ago did not write down information so they used several memorizing systems. Some students in this civilization had to memorize very long texts. One method that they applied was to teach certain content at a certain place in a forest. To remember this information the student had to think back of the particular tree and spot where he had learned it. Another method was using strings of different beads. Each bead represented a certain package of information. The student would let the bead go through his hands, similar for example to praying a rosary, and would memorize the knowledge in that way. Study and learning was mostly done on the spot, for example medicinal and nutritional plants were studied in the field. Excursions were repeated again and again until children knew all the plants they had to learn about.

Articles general

• Memory - "In psychology, memory is an organism's ability to store, retain, and recall information and experiences." - Wikipedia (More Wikipedia articles about memory: Muscle memory, Memory and aging, Autobiographical memory)
  
• Mnemonic - "A mnemonic or mnemonic device, is any learning technique that aids memory. Commonly met mnemonics are often verbal, something such as a very short poem or a special word used to help a person remember something, particularly lists, but may be visual, kinesthetic or auditory." - Wikipedia (Some specific mnemonic systems described in Wikipedia: Method of Ioci also called the memory palace or the mental walk, Mnemonic link system, Mnemonic major system, Mnemonic dominic system)
  

Blogs

• How the memory champs do it
  
• John Eagles' personal blog: Articles about memory

See also

• Soon to be included in this blog: a page about the brain
  

Videos

• Research topics: Memory - Playlist

• We Are What We Remember: Memory and Biology - Presentation by Eric Kandel, who received the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, is professor of biochemistry and biophysics - FORA.tv - March 28, 2011
  

Websites

• New Scientist article: Memory sticks: Can I expand my short-term memory? - Several more articles about memory are listed on this page