While I read the paragraph - half flew out of my head ... Familiar? Almost all schoolchildren and students face this problem. The fact is that the human brain is not programmed for cramming, and he generally perceives most of what is written in the textbook as noise - useless information that should not be stored in memory. But if you know how these mechanisms work, you can learn how to control this process and understand how to memorize what was read the first time.
Memory science
Before any information gets to our "hard drive", it goes through a difficult path and undergoes multi-level processing. The first to study these mechanisms was the German scientist German Ebbinghaus. He identified 4 main processes of memory: memorization, storage, reproduction and forgetting.
What is the best way to remember what you read? In this matter, the first two stages are of key importance. Therefore, they are worth considering in more detail.
Memorization is an involuntary capture of what affected the senses. In this case, for some time in the cerebral cortex, a certain trace of excitation caused by electrical impulses remains. In simple terms, everything that we see, hear and feel leaves physical traces in our brains.
This can happen in different ways. Even in early childhood, the child activates the process of involuntary memorization. We all store moments and facts that we did not try to remember: a walk in the park at the age of 5, a first date, shots from a favorite movie ... An interesting phenomenon is that not all of us remember equally well. Why is this happening?
It all depends on the strength of the electrical impulses, so best of all we only remember certain types of information:
- that which is of vital importance (pain when you bring your hand to the fire);
- unusual, vivid events and images (bright costume of the actor at the carnival);
- information that is related to our interests and needs (a recipe for a delicious dish);
- valuable knowledge necessary for our activities and the implementation of goals (correct test answers).
At 90%, how well some information is captured in memory depends on our perception. First of all, it is imprinted that caused strong emotions (both positive and negative) or interest.
In addition, there is deliberate memorization - just that process in which we consciously try to “record” certain information, for example, dates from a history textbook or an important phone number.
Conservation is the process of processing, transforming and consolidating new information in certain parts of the brain.
First, all the information falls into a kind of "buffer", RAM. Here, the material is stored for a short time in its original form. But at the next stage, the information is processed, associated with the already known, simplified and transferred to long-term memory. The most difficult thing is to prevent distortion, to prevent the brain from adding non-existent facts or “throwing out” key points. Knowing all this, it is much easier to understand how to memorize what was read the first time.
We set clear goals
Even if you read very carefully and thoughtfully, turning the page, you can hardly retell in detail what you just learned.
Back in the 19th century, the Yugoslav psychologist P. Radossavlevich conducted an interesting experiment. The task that faced the subject was to memorize meaningless syllables. This usually required several repetitions. Then the goal changed - now you just had to read what was written. The subject did this as much as 46 (!) Times, but when the experimenter asked to repeat the series by heart, he could not do this. But as soon as I realized that they needed to be learned - it took only 6 times to glance through the syllables in order to correctly retell them. What is this talking about?
In order to understand how to read, so that what is read is remembered, it is necessary to set a clear goal - to remember the material.
Here, too, have their own tricks. The main goal must be broken down into more specialized tasks. Simply put, you choose what to focus on. In one case, it is enough to highlight the basic facts, in the other their sequence, and in the third, remember the text verbatim. Then, when reading, the brain will begin to create “hooks” that will help to remember the necessary information.
Create a comfortable environment
And we continue to discuss how to remember the read text the first time. First of all, it is worth looking around in search of "irritants." In a noisy audience or public transport, attention is scattered, and sometimes you don’t even realize what is written in the textbook.
In order to fully immerse yourself in the process, it is advisable to settle in a quiet room or find a secluded place somewhere in nature - where nothing will distract you.
It is advisable to do in the morning, when the head is still as clear as possible and new information is acquired much faster.
Talking with friends
Although many people don’t like retelling at school literature lessons, this is one of the most effective ways to memorize what you read. When you pronounce what you read recently, the brain uses two channels of memorization and reproduction at once - visual and auditory (auditory).
Even better if you have an interlocutor who is ready to support the discussion. During the discussion, key facts and arguments seem to be “driven” into memory, staying there for a long time. In some countries, reading clubs are common, the participants of which gather precisely to discuss what they read and share their impressions.
Learning to read correctly
If you want to know how to learn to memorize what you read the first time, you should first of all work on a reading technique. Do not forget that visual memory has a huge role in remembering: you mentally “photograph” the page, and if you can’t remember something, you just have to imagine it and the necessary information will pop up in your head. But how to achieve this?
- Do not start to immediately grasp every word, but try to cover the entire page with your eyes.
- Increase reading speed. It is proved that the faster a person learns a text, the more efficiently information is absorbed. Try to expand the focus area so that you "catch" with your eyes not just one, but at least 2-3 words. You can also sign up for speed reading courses, where you will be taught to read diagonally.
- When you notice that you are distracted and have missed some fragment, in no case do not return to it to re-read it. Such “leaps” interfere with the holistic perception of the material. It is better to study the paragraph to the end, and then re-read it completely again.
- Unlearn the habit of mentally pronouncing sentences or moving your lips. Because of these childhood habits, the brain cannot concentrate on the text, but spends part of the resources to support your “internal speaker”.
In the first 3-4 hours it will be unusual and difficult. But as soon as you are rebuilt, not only the reading speed will increase, but also the amount of information that you will remember from the first time.
Writing notes
Another option is how to memorize what you read the first time. If you do not just go over your eyes through the text, but work through the material and at least briefly write down the main points, later on with these notes you can easily restore the necessary information in your memory.
However, it is important to know what and how to take notes, because without a certain system you will simply get confused in a heap of fragmentary facts. Here are some techniques you can use:
- Grouping . All material is divided into small fragments, which are then combined according to some signs (topics, time period, associations, etc.).
- Plan . Short notes are created for each part of the text (paragraph, chapter or section of a paragraph) that act as strong points and help restore the full content. The format can be any: key points, headings, examples or questions to the text.
- Classification . It is made in the form of a diagram or table. Allows you to distribute various objects, phenomena or concepts into groups and classes based on common features.
- Schematization. With the help of text blocks, arrows and simple drawings, the connections between various objects, processes and events are demonstrated.
- Associations . Each item in the plan or thesis is associated with a familiar, understandable or simply memorable way that helps to “resurrect” the rest of the memory.
In this case, try not to get involved. Remember that this is not a full synopsis, but small pointers that will direct thoughts in the right direction.
5 best active memorization techniques
And now let's move on to the most “delicious” and talk about how to memorize what was read the first time, even without preparation. Perhaps you have already come across the concept of mnemonics - these are various techniques that allow you to absorb a large amount of information in a short time.
1. Visualization
When reading, you should as clearly as possible imagine all the events and phenomena described in the text. The more lively and emotional the pictures, the better.
2. Creative associations
Few people know, but inventing them is a whole art. There are 5 “golden” rules that you must adhere to easily remember any information:
- Do not think. Use the first image that came to mind.
- Associations must have a strong emotional component.
- Imagine yourself the main character (for example, if the lemon was lying on the table - try to "eat" it).
- Add absurdity.
- Make the resulting “picture” funny.
How it works? Suppose you study the direction of painting and want to remember what pointillism is. In short: this is one of the varieties of neo-Impressionism, where the paintings consist of many bright points of the correct form (founder - Georges-Pierre Cera). What association can you come up with here? Imagine a ballerina who smeared pointes in paint and, spinning in a dance, leaves a picture of colorful dots on the stage. Moves on and accidentally touches the leg with a jar of yellow sulfur, which falls with a loud roar. Here are our associations: pointe shoes with bright spots - pointillism, and a container with sulfur - Georges-Pierre Sera.
3. The method of repetition of I. A. Korsakov
This technique is based on the fact that we forget a huge part of information almost instantly. However, if you repeat the material regularly, it will be firmly entrenched in memory. What do you need to remember?
- New information must be repeated within 20 seconds after its perception (if we are talking about a large fragment of the text - up to a minute).
- During the first day, retell the material several times: after 15-20 minutes, then after 8-9 hours and, finally, after 24 hours.
- To remember what you read for a long time, you need to repeat the text several more times during the week - on the 4th and 7th day.
The technique is very simple, but at the same time incredibly effective. Regular repetitions make the brain realize that this is not just informational noise, but important data that is constantly being used.
4. Cicero Method
A useful trick for those who want to know how to memorize information read in books. The point is pretty simple. You choose a certain "base" - for example, the decor of your apartment. Remember how your morning begins, what and in what sequence you do. After that, you need to “attach” some piece of text to each action - again, with the help of associations. So you will remember not only the essence, but also the sequence of presentation of information.
For example, by studying a paragraph on history, you can mentally “draw” battle scenes on the bedside table or “send” Columbus to plow the expanses of the bathroom.
5. Pictogram method
Prepare a blank sheet and pen. Immediately in the process of reading, you need to mentally note keywords and moments. Your task is to come up with a small pictogram for each, which will remind you of what was discussed. No need to make sketchy or, on the contrary, too detailed pictures, otherwise you will not be able to concentrate on the text and remember it normally. When you reach the end of a paragraph or chapter, try, looking only at the pictograms, to retell the text you have just read.