Studying lists

[Function]

Hello everyone

 

I was wondering if anyone had the same problem as I regularly have when I have to study lists and enumerations:

 

When I try to remember the items, I can remember all of them, but 1. Mostly the most difficult/complex/longest one. When I then look at the list, I recall the item. Then, when I try to reproduce the list, again, the item fails to come up in my mind.

 

Then again I look at the list. But then, when I try to reproduce the list again, I succeed in naming the item I always forgot.

 

The problem? I now forgot another item. Not seldomly the one I remembered the best before.

 

Anyone else experiencing this? In best case, anyone with an explanation?

 

Thanks!

 

F

[Sriman Dutta]

Our brain has a short time memory space where every new thing replaces the earlier or older memory. This thing happens while you remember the new term that you learnt really hard, and forgetting the earlier term.

[victorianeuro]

Well, there is the famous 7 item rule in terms of our memory ability. this means that although there are lndividual differences we can roughly remember 7 items in each category (this refers to short term memory) . When we want some items to get registered in our long term memory, it helps to memorise them in the most organised way for our brain.

There are several tricks that help us remember items , you need to see what is best for you. for instance sometimes it is helpful to use acronims where each letter in the word is the first letter of the item we want to remember.

If you think you are a visual learner you could try to link each item to a picture for instance you could try to remember astrocytes by linking them to stars (star shaped glial cells).

in medicine another helpful way it is to follow the latin or greek meaning of the word , it makes a huge difference to understand the actual meaning of the word, it makes it easier to remember what it is . Repetition is a good method and you seem to be doing this already...

 

what topic are you currently studying for?

[Function]

in medicine another helpful way it is to follow the latin or greek meaning of the word , it makes a huge difference to understand the actual meaning of the word, it makes it easier to remember what it is . Repetition is a good method and you seem to be doing this already...

 

what topic are you currently studying for?

 

In Belgium, we are obligated to learn the Latin terminology and it helps. Learning anatomy and physiology was never a problem; rather than just memorizing, it had something logical.

 

But now, with an exam impending about "Environment and health", "Health economics", "Occupational medicine", "Public health" and "Health and human rights", there's quite the lists to memorize. But yeah for about every list, I figured a mnemonic.

[StringJunky]

 

In Belgium, we are obligated to learn the Latin terminology and it helps. Learning anatomy and physiology was never a problem; rather than just memorizing, it had something logical.

 

But now, with an exam impending about "Environment and health", "Health economics", "Occupational medicine", "Public health" and "Health and human rights", there's quite the lists to memorize. But yeah for about every list, I figured a mnemonic.

For me, the key to remembering is understanding the underlying principles which are like the branches of a tree and the leaves are the details. If you don't have the branches you've got nowhere to put the leaves and hence you can't find them easily when you need them because they are scattered all around in your memory in a disorganised manner.

Edited January 10, 2017 by StringJunky

[Prometheus]

During my nurse training i once memorised every bone and muscle in the hand and foot. Such a waste of time.

[Function]

During my nurse training i once memorised every bone and muscle in the hand and foot. Such a waste of time.

 

That reminds me of another phenomenon I'd like to discuss:

 

When every name of every muscle, artery, bone isn't the main thing to memorize, but rather more detailed work (e.g. all ridges, bumps etc. on every bone, every origin, insertion, working mechanism and innervation of every muscle, topographic anatomy of arteries, ...), then memorizing the names of the structures requires no effort at all. At least, not with me: studying osteology, I had no problem whatsoever naming every bone wherever in the human body, but the most intensive part about osteology was naming every inegality on the bones.

 

Is that because you repeat the name of the structure incredibly much in order to get to know and go throug the details?

[Prometheus]

That's what StringJunky was talking about isn't it? Having a context and a reason for knowing, is the branch upon which the detailed leaves can hang. But memorising lists of words with no context - just leaves blowing in the wind.

 

In my opinion this is a common trap in medical training: confusing knowing the names of things for understanding them.

[Function]

That's what StringJunky was talking about isn't it? Having a context and a reason for knowing, is the branch upon which the detailed leaves can hang. But memorising lists of words with no context - just leaves blowing in the wind.

 

In my opinion this is a common trap in medical training: confusing knowing the names of things for understanding them.

 

Indeed. My professor in genetics was talking about "dentatorubropallidoluysian atrophy". He said "if you can pronounce this, well ... You don't have it."

 

To someone who's already been through neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, remembering the term would be easy and explaining what it means would require some effort: just remember what the dentate & red nucleus do, the globus pallidus and the subthalamic nucleus of Luys.

 

To someone who hasn't ever had neuroanatomy or neurophysiology, it would be a lot more difficult.

[victorianeuro]

I liked the way StringJunky put it, with the metaphor of the branches and the leaves. it is a meaningful and succinct way to put it....

Another important factor in memory is motivation and our own interest in the topic.

 

I would possibly find it harder to study for the subjects you mentioned than for neuroanatomy right now...

("Environment and health", "Health economics", "Occupational medicine", "Public health" and "Health and human rights",)

[Function]

I would possibly find it harder to study for the subjects you mentioned than for neuroanatomy right now...

("Environment and health", "Health economics", "Occupational medicine", "Public health" and "Health and human rights",)

 

That's exactly how exactly every single student thinks about the upcoming exam. Tbh, it doesn't interest any of us, memorizing this useless crap we'll forget in about a few days.

Edited January 10, 2017 by Function

[StringJunky]

Another way to help instil it into memory is to simultaneously engage as many senses as possible in your repetition. Speak what you are reading so that your ears are receiving the input as well and write it at the same time... you are then using ears, touch (muscle memory), and eyes as input channels.and that should instil better concentration as well.

I liked the way StringJunky put it, with the metaphor of the branches and the leaves. it is a meaningful and succinct way to put it....

Another important factor in memory is motivation and our own interest in the topic.

Thanks. Interest is important otherwise rote learning really is the only option,. The only time I do the latter is telephone numbers. I write it 5 times, saying each number as I do so. That usually nails it permanently into memory.

...just leaves blowing in the wind.

That's a good way to extend the metaphor.

[CharonY]

That is a good point. Writing and speaking out loud are certainly very useful techniques. I find giving out memorizing exams incredibly dull, but unfortunately you get in all kind of troubles if you try to test understanding on subjects instead. Rather unfortunately that further promotes rote learning well throughout undergrad courses.