method of loci (memory palace technique)

THE METHOD OF LOCI

Memorize like the pros

(and the ancient Greeks)

7 Steps to Rapid Learning - UpgradedApe.com

The Method of Loci (also known as the memory palace technique) links a list of data with a physical journey to instil it in your brain.


This is what the 8 time World Memory Champion Dominic

O’Brien uses to win year after year.


Step 1 – Have a physical journey that you know well (I use a trip around my parents

house, stepping into each room in turn).


Step 2 – Rehearse this journey in your mind a

number of times. Try and think of what emotions crop

up in each location.


Step 3 – Now place a piece of data in each of those

rooms (I like to physically place it on the sofa for

example in my parents living room).


Step 4 – Start at the beginning of your journey in your mind, follow its path, recall the emotions and then

look for the data in the room.

It should visually pop straight into your head.


Brain scans of "superior memorizers", (90% of whom use The Method of Loci), have shown

that it involves activation of regions of the brain involved in spatial awareness, such as the medial

parietal cortex, retrosplenial cortex, and the right posterior hippocampus

(1)(2).


Basically -

THE MORE REAL THE MEMORY =

THE MORE IT’S CEMENTED IN YOUR

BRAIN


You can use multiple journeys or have one long journey that you can

use over and over.

I’ve used a journey around my parents house to memorize the 52 cards in a deck, half drunk. It really

works!


No, my parents do not live in a mansion. You can increase the length of your

journey by making each room a mini journey –

Walk in the door, data on the fireplace, data in the picture frame to the right,

data sat in armchair, data on the TV etc.

method of loci (memory palace technique)

Self Improvement

mini journey walk

picture frame

rapid learning

parents house

physical journey

data sat

parents

journey