How to Talk Your Way to a Better Memory
Did you know the simple act of speaking aloud can help you remember more?
There are plenty of memory optimization strategies out there, but they’re not necessarily known for their accessibility. Mnemonics? Spaced repetition? They’re great if you want to put in the time and effort to really make them work, but they do require some prior knowledge and even skill.
Not much help if you need to learn something by, say, tomorrow morning.
But what if I told you there’s a simpler, more familiar way to prime your memory? What if I told you it’s as easy as using your voice? It might sound too good to be true, but you really can memorize things more easily just by talking, both to yourself and to those around you!
Self-Talk
There has long been a stigma attached to talking to oneself, but research suggests the behavior yields multiple benefits, including enhanced memory and cognition.
Reading material aloud makes it easier to memorize.
A recent study found that reading information aloud helps with storing it in your long-term memory. In this case, it’s not just the act of speaking the words that makes them more memorable, but also the act of hearing yourself speak them. The personal dimension of reading aloud appears to be a major driver of memory formation in this case.
There is also reason to believe that reading text aloud makes it more distinctive, which increases its memorability. The implication here is that reading only key points aloud is a more effective technique than reading aloud large chunks of text. So don’t try this strategy with whole pages of your textbook thinking you’ll have perfect recall on tomorrow’s test.
Self-explaining can help you learn more efficiently.
Self-explaining — that is, audibly explaining concepts to yourself— can have a big impact not just on your memory, but on your overall ability to learn. You get at least some of the same benefits of reading aloud to yourself, plus the following:
- Metacognition - Self-explaining helps you to be more aware of your thought processes. This allows you to analyze your thoughts on a topic and form more relevant questions, ultimately leading to more effective learning.
- Making connections - The more you try to explain a concept to yourself, the more connections to it you’re able to perceive. These connections, in turn, are key to making information more memorable.
- Exploring ideas - As you talk through ideas, you’re led to ask and answer more questions. In this way, you form a more robust understanding of the topic, making it easier to recall details later.
Dialogue With Others
If you’re still feeling a little self-conscious about having whole conversations with yourself, that’s okay: it takes some getting used to. The good news is that talking to other people provides many similar benefits.
Even short conversations can boost memory and exam performance.
Researchers have found that chatting with someone for as little as ten minutes can have positive impacts on both your memory and overall intellectual performance. The remarkable thing about this finding is that the subject of conversation doesn’t seem to matter: a short conversation with a friend about anything can improve your memory and mental function.
And, of course, talking with other people is a great way to see things from different perspectives and form new connections, making information more distinctive and thus more memorable.
What’s more, short periods of social interaction offer both immediate and more long-term cognitive advantages. Extroverts rejoice!
Science has made it clear: the mundane act of talking provides huge benefits when it comes to memory and learning. So next time you’re studying for a big test or trying to understand a tricky new concept at work, consider telling someone about it, even if you’re just talking to yourself. It could later prove to be the difference between performing admirably and struggling to remember a crucial point.
