'Memory is something that can be trained using neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to be malleable throughout life,' Dr. Tara Swart Bieber told Newsweek.
That might sound obvious, but these associative memories are a useful tool for remembering new information. Swart Bieber said one of the best brain exercises you can do to improve your recall is the memory palace technique, also known as the method of loci.
Popularized by Sherlock Holmes, the method works like this: visualize a place you know well. This could be your home, your office, where you grew up, or anywhere that you can visualize consistently in your head. Next, map out a path through that location. Along your path, choose specific key points like the door mat, the fruit bowl, that ugly painting of a cat your sister drew, etc. List them in the order in which you would approach them as you walked along your chosen path.
This next step is the most crucial: ascribe a piece of information to each of these key points. But just randomly assigning facts to furniture is not enough—you need to find memorable links between them. So for example, let's say you are trying to remember the first three presidents of the United States. You first arrive at the door mat and think of washing your shoes—apple.
This trick works particularly well for remembering lists or blocks of information. But if you are trying to remember where you put your keys, simply being more mindful about your behavior can help."You remember what you pay attention to, so, knowing that, you can mindfully pay attention the things you want to remember and not focus on things that are potential distractions," Swart Bieber said.
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