The memory palace
Walk through an imaginary house. In each place, leave an object, picturing it in an absurd and vivid way. Then go around again to find them.
The experiment starts as soon as the page has loaded (JavaScript is required).
Try the experiment: your result will appear here, next to what most people do.
What just happened (read it after the experiment)
What most people do: With this method, finding eight objects out of ten on the very first visit is common.
The method of loci, or “memory palace,” dates back to antiquity. It is credited to the Greek poet Simonides; Roman orators used it to remember their speeches.
It works because your memory for places is ancient and powerful: attaching a piece of information to a precise spot and a bizarre image gives it something to hold on to.
In 2017, novices trained in this method for six weeks more than doubled their scores, and their brains began to work like those of the champions.
More experiments
Sources
- Martin Dresler et al., “Mnemonic training reshapes brain networks to support superior memory,” Neuron, 2017.
- Cicero, De Oratore, 55 BC.