Introduction: Unlock Your Photographic Memory by Brian Spencer
When you think of a photographic memory what image comes to mind? Let's be honest here. I was excited to read Unlock Your Photographic Memory by Brian Spencer. I thought I'd learn how to take pictures of the words on a page. But that's not what photographic memory is about.
Learning how to learn is a skill the World Economic Forum says you need to thrive in the future. I agree with the think tank and this is something that I’d been saying for years. Because learning agility is so important, it’s necessary to have many tools in your learning toolkit. This is essential, since not all learning strategies will resonate with you. But having a few that you’ll use will prove to be a gold mine for you. Unlock Your Photographic Memory by Brian Spencer has many strategies you can incorporate into your repertoire of learning tips and tricks.
Summary of Unlock Your Photographic Memory by Brian Spencer
Encoding is the first step in memory creation, and it’s rooted in your senses. Memory is encoded and stored as electricity and chemicals.
“When a memory is called upon, nerve cells interact with other cells across a gap called a synapse. All action happening throughout your brain occurs at these synapses where electrical pulses carrying the messages leap across the gaps between the cells. As the leaping processing is happening, chemical messengers called neurotransmitters are triggered and released simultaneously. These neurotransmitters diffuse across the spaces that exist between cells and attach themselves to the cells surrounding it.”
As you learn and practice new information, intricate circuits of memory and knowledge are built into your brain.
4 Working Memory Components
These working memory components allow you to simultaneously hold chunks of information in your mind.
- Central Executive
- Visuospatial Sketchpad
- Episodic Buffer
- Phonological Loop
The central executive manages and coordinates the other three working memory components. The visuospatial sketchpad, episodic buffer, and phonological loop work independently of each other. This enables them to handle a series of memory tasks at the same time. It’s important to work on improving each working memory component to get more information into your long-term memory.
Visuospatial Sketchpad
This is a drawing pad where visual images are placed on this sketchpad. Some of the most memorable moments will move to your long-term memory. What you hear and think is turned into visual images. When you work with a visual image, the right hemisphere of the cortex is activated. The occipital lobe at the rear of the cortex is activated, and when you engage in a mental task that involves the visual image, you also activate the frontal lobe as well.
Phonological Loop
This stores a few sounds for a short period. Researchers have found that you can mentally pronounce as many words as you can hold in your head in 1.5 seconds. This means it’s easier to remember short words compared to long words.
As long as you continue to pay attention to the number you want to remember, using your visuospatial sketchpad to remember images while using your phonological loop to remember a number will not interfere with each other.
Episodic Buffer
Here you can synchronize information that you have retrieved from your visuospatial sketchpad and phonological loop, along with your long‐term memory.
Central Executive
This working memory component integrates the information from the other three other systems; the visuospatial sketchpad, the phonological loop, and the episodic buffer. The central executive function helps you focus on the information that you need to pay attention to while removing irrelevant information. Also, it helps you plan strategies and coordinate behavior, so you can decide what to do next and what not to do.
Long-Term Memory
Your long-term memory can be split into three categories.
- Episodic
- Semantic
- Procedural
Episodic Memory: Memory for experience involved any time in the past from a few minutes ago to years ago. You travel backwards to recall the memories.
Semantic Memory: Organized base of knowledge for what you know about the world. Used and activated in everyday life. Consider the validity of information from any source.
Procedural Memory: How things work. Once it gets transferred to long-term memory it becomes automatic. It’s like driving a car.
Keys to a Photographic Memory
Key #1: Association
Memories are based on association. If you cannot recall a memory, chances are you didn’t use the right technique to store and retrieve it. The system of association is one of the best ways to store information in your brain for retrieval later.
Associate new information with what you know. What you’re already familiar with. It’s hard to forget something when you associate it with something else. What does the new information remind you of? Make it something ridiculous.
Key #2: The Link
When you associate different pieces of information together, you’re linking them to form memory chains.
4 Rules in the Link System
- Substitution
- Out of proportion
- Exaggeration
- Action
Substitution: Replace one item with another to make a connection between them.
Out of proportion: Magnify the information you want to remember. Make it larger than life.
Exaggeration: Exaggerate the new information into a series of actions, so it becomes a movie in your head.
Action: Turn the new information into a series of actions, so it becomes a movie in your head.
Key #3: Repetition
When you repeat information several times to yourself, you’ll likely remember it later on. One form of repetition is to write the information and think about it while doing so. Repeat to yourself what you’re writing. This helps your mind to better store the information. Repetition works best when combined with the Association and Link techniques.
Snapshot Techniques
The Snapshot and Link techniques open up your photographic memory.
Snapshot Technique #1: Names and Faces
When introduced to someone, ask them to repeat his or her name. Link the name to someone you already know who has the same name. Link the name to the person’s physical appearance. If the person is pretty, you could mentally remember Pretty Nicky. Be specific and link the name to a character trait – a distinctive feature. Also, repeat the name to yourself several times.
Snapshot Technique #2: Numbers
You can easily recite a series of numbers if you have a system.
The Major System
You don’t memorize the numbers, but substitute them with words and phrases. The words and phrases are then linked to objects and pictures.
The Grouping System
When you feel like the Major system and the Edward system are too difficult to apply, use the Grouping system. Group numbers into shorter chunks.
“The Grouping system is a system devised by Mathematicians to group a long series of numbers into shorter ‘chunks’ and to associate them with whatever can help remember the sequence.”
Linking Techniques
Link Technique #1: Item List
Harry Pillsbury, a famous chess player, was also known for incredible memory. He had what may be seen as supernatural memory power. But he relied on the Link system. With practice, you can develop your memory talent to create lists.
Link Technique #2: Speeches
One of the biggest fears is public speaking. The atmosphere is usually tense and speakers rely on a script to deliver the speech. But that will not be you though. When delivering a speech, talk in your own language and expression. It’s a sequence of thoughts you share with others. Associate keywords to form a story, so you’re able to remind yourself of keywords during the speech.
Use your body parts to remember things. Make it ridiculous and memorable. As an example, toothpaste sticking out of your mouth.
Link Technique #3 – Body Parts
You have a list of items to buy at the grocery store. To remember what you need, assign each item on your list to a body part. So you could step on mushrooms. You get the picture?
Memory Boosters
Food Boosters
You’ve heard it said before that you’re what you eat.
Fish Oils
Cells in your brain need omega-3 fatty acids to function effectively. You can get omega-3 fatty acids from tuna, sardine, salmon, mackerel and herring. These foods improve memory. Sardine has the added benefit of having the nutrient choline, which is essential for memory.
Soy Products
Food rich in protein helps the transmission of information in the brain for greater memory. Soy is a pure form of protein. You can get it from soymilk or in liquid or powder form as a supplement.
Egg
The brain needs the essential fats found in eggs.
Ginkgo Biloba
This increases the supply of oxygen to the brain. And it gets rid of free radicals in the brain.
Rosemary
Herb that helps to minimize fatigue. It boosts memory up to 18 percent.
Sage
Helps to transmit messages to and from brain cells. It regulates chemicals in the brain that act as stimulants of information retrieval.
Ginseng
Natural memory booster and helps to relax those who are overworked. It’s a natural stress reliever.
Water
The body is 70 percent water and if you don’t keep hydrated, it produces cortisol, which reduces your brain’s capacity to store information.
Fruits and Vegetables
Excellent brain boosters are blueberries, strawberries, and spinach because they are rich in oxidants. It protects brain cells and prevents blood clots. Blood clots slow down the brain's neural response to chemical messages. This leads to slow memory processing.
Complex Carbohydrates
Wheat bread and pasta are good for your brain. Glucose is slowly and consistently released into the bloodstream. Eat slowly and combine carbohydrates with proteins.
Conclusion: Unlock Your Photographic Memory by Brian Spencer
There are several strategies in Unlock Your Photographic Memory that you can immediately use. The book could do with more editing, but it has some good information. There were a couple of instances where I read something and I couldn’t understand what the author was saying, so I had to do some research to understand the information. Don’t discount the information, though.
Next Steps
Wondering what to do next, you can do all of:
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Buy Unlock Your Photographic Memory by Brian Spencer
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Buy my new book, Leadership Reading: Spilling the Tea on How Top Leaders Read
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If you want to Consult 1:1 about Effective Reading Strategies
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Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
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Join the Art of Learning Membership Site
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Download Unlock Your Genius Power Reading Tips Sheet
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Buy me a cup of coffee!
If you want access to my Bookish Notes, please consider joining my membership site, the Art of Learning.
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