this post was submitted on 01 Oct 2024
18 points (95.0% liked)

Ask Lemmy

27089 readers
3477 users here now

A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions

Please don't post about US Politics. If you need to do this, try [email protected]


Rules: (interactive)


1) Be nice and; have funDoxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, and toxicity are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them


2) All posts must end with a '?'This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?


3) No spamPlease do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.


4) NSFW is okay, within reasonJust remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either [email protected] or [email protected]. NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].


5) This is not a support community.
It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions. If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email [email protected]. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.


Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.

Partnered Communities:

Tech Support

No Stupid Questions

You Should Know

Reddit

Jokes

Ask Ouija


Logo design credit goes to: tubbadu


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

The method of loci (MOL)/memory palaces are a widely known mnemonic devices and enable memory artists impressive tasks (like memorizing several decks of cards, memorizing numbers etc.). Further MOL is featured in pop culture e.g. Sherlock Holmes, Hannibal Lector etc...

There is, to the best of my knowledge quite some research, which shows that MOL is working/useful for improved retention, especially when combined with spaced repetition.

It seems I have never seem real world examples of long term memory palaces/method of loci applications. It always seems like a short term crutch for cards, numbers, speeches, grocery lists, phone numbers, vocabulary or for test/exam preparation. For example it seems that in language learning, the MOL is for encoding some vocabulary and visiting it regularly, until it is committed to long term memory.

All examples I find in books about the method of loci are again only about having one location, a route of 10-N stations, and never about building/using mnemonic devices to organize bigger amounts of knowledge.

Are there any examples of people using the method of loci/memory palaces to organize for example their professional knowledge? Or of polyglots having/keeping memory palaces for language learning? Is there any research about long term usage of the method of loci?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Professionals have large networks of neurons. They are sturdy and efficient from repeated use. Memory palaces help to start the construction of these large networks of neurons. Afterwards, as another commenter noted, the knowledge is deeply processed. Mnemonics are replaced by networks of meaning. It is no longer “This algorithm rhymes with tomato”, but “This algorithm is faster if the data is stored in faster hardware, but our equipment is old so we better use this other algorithm for now”.

Broadly, the progression of learning is: superficial learning, deep learning, and transfer. Check out Visible Learning: The Sequel by John Hattie for more on this.

Edit: To directly answer your question, experts have so many sturdy neural hooks on which to hang new knowledge that mnemonics become less and less necessary. Mnemonics may be particularly helpful when first learning something challenging, but are less necessary as people learn.

You could also check out a paradox called the expert paradox. We used to think memory is boxes that get filled. This idea was directly challenged by Craik and Lockhart’s Levels of Processing. Levels of processing supports the idea that “the more you know, the faster you learn”. Note that this is domain-specific. In other words, an expert in dog training won’t learn quantum mechanics faster than anyone else.

[–] wolf 2 points 2 months ago

A very big thank you for taking your time to answer in such an elaborate way and giving pointers for further information. Highly appreciated!