By Sanjiv Goyal Featuring Chester Santos
In this article you will learn about:
- Memory techniques
- The neuroscience behind learning
- Common learning myths
- The U.S. Memory Championships
- The role memory plays in innovation
- The impact of technology on memory
- The benefits of memory training
- Ethical use of technology
From Software Engineer to Memory Champion
How does a software engineer become a U.S. Memory Champion, keynote speaker, and memory coach? By watching TV.
Like most of us, Chester Santos was working at a nine to five and relaxing in the evenings by flipping through channels. One fateful night he caught a 20/20 segment about the US Memory Championship and he was hooked.
Santos was in awe that ordinary people had the ability to memorize decks of cards or hundreds of names in mere minutes. His curiosity led him to do internet research and read every book he could find on the subject of memory.
In his spare hours after the working day was done, he began experimenting with different memory techniques. He identified which ones worked best for him and began practicing. He had his sights on the U.S. Memory Championship.
He took third in his first contest and frustratingly kept getting third place year after year. In 2008 he got serious and he began studying three to four hours a day on weekdays and four or more hours on weekends. He became obsessed and it paid off. He placed first that year.
Santos acknowledges that he had a decent memory to begin with, but he is adamant that anyone can develop an amazing ability to remember things by using the right techniques and implementing a little bit of training and practice.
Memory Training
Because we are outsourcing our memory and some other mental functions to software and electronic devices the average person today is losing some of their ability to remember. These devices can increase efficiency, but we should still make it a point to develop our mental functions so as not to be placed in a position of digital dependency.
The International Man of Memory reminds us, “We must not forget that the amazing technology that is available to us today all came from the power of the human mind. So we want to continue to work on developing and maintaining our mental abilities.”
Some of the best memory experts can memorize a deck of cards in less than thirty seconds. How is this possible? Chester says it’s all about practice and the right techniques which can be broken down into three main principles.
The Three Principles of Memory Development:
1- Visualization
Take the information you want to memorize and visualize it. For example, if you want to remember that someone’s name is Mike, you might picture a microphone.
2- Sensory Stacking
Involve additional senses to this process. As you add more senses, you activate more areas of the brain. This builds more connections around the information you are trying to encode which makes it easier to retrieve.
3- Keeping It Weird
It’s human nature; we all remember things that are out of the ordinary or that catch us by surprise. People are more likely to remember unusual things.
On an episode of Nova Science NOW from PBS, neuroscientists confirmed that Santos is able to master these feats of memorization because the techniques he employs engage more of his brain and that anybody can tap into this resource. You can watch the episode here.
The average person isn’t looking to win a memory competition, but there are many practical and professional advantages to improving your ability to remember things.
Benefits of Memory Training:
- Networking
(How many times have you forgotten a name the minute after an introduction?)
- Quickly learning processes and procedures
- Ability to recall training materials
- Increased ability to learn new information
Memory and Learning
What does it take to learn something? Is it sheer commitment, desire, passion, or something else? Santos posits that learning and memorization come down to connecting something new to something known, in other words, association.
In order for new information to make sense, our brain links it to something we already know. There are various ways to create this connection. Santos uses predominantly visual techniques.
What about desire? Motivation certainly plays a role. Drilling methods aside, it’s easier to remember things we were eager to pay attention to in the first place. Here is where memory training comes to the rescue by making it entertaining to encode boring information.
Though each person has a unique learning style that will work best for them, the broader a person’s knowledge base, the easier it is for them to assimilate new information.
Learning Myths
You often hear people say, “I don’t want to learn all this useless information. It’s going to “clutter” my brain.” This is a myth. In fact, the opposite is true. Because learning boils down to the association of something unknown with something familiar, it benefits us to “stuff the brain” with as much information as possible.
There is no such thing as learning too much. If you think it would crowd your mind to learn three things instead of two, think again. Learning an additional chunk of information will make it easier to learn more things in the future.
“A cluttered mind” is actually a myth. Learning a variety of information that covers a wide range of topics increases our ability to learn and retain new information.
Our brains aren’t computers; they evolve and adapt, growing physical connections as we input information. This is known as neuroplasticity or brain plasticity.
Memory and Innovation
Expanding the scope of our studies helps to develop the brain and enables us to process information faster. In this way, it fosters creativity and innovation.
Someone with a broad knowledge base will be able to make different and increasingly creative associations than someone who is limited to a few areas of understanding.
You can paint with two colors, but add one more color and a myriad of possibilities opens. Think about the difference between 2D and 3D. Having more “knowns” (colors) to draw from increases creativity and imagination which are the cornerstones of innovation.
Remember, two ways to stay sharp are:
- Train your brain
You can try out Santos’s memorization training or explore other brain-stimulating strategies.
- Follow your curiosity
Make sure you are learning new things in a wide range of subjects that interest you. Nerd out to your heart’s content.
It is imperative for human progress and evolution that we take care of our mental capacities, especially our memory. Yes, we can Google anything, but software can’t invent the great breakthroughs of our time. Only the human mind can.
Technology is Only a Tool
We should “outsource” thinking to software and devices to the extent that it augments our efficiency without handicapping our mental capacities. Being overly reliant on technology can suppress our creativity and muffle our inert innovative powers.
Whenever there is technological development, people have the same fears: that the technology will take over, creating dependency and rigid limitations. However, once a new technology becomes widely available or mainstream, it expands our possibilities instead of restricting us and allows humanity to make leaps and bounds.
We have to remember that the technology in and of itself is not bad and that it’s all in how we use it. Knowledge and technology are power; when placed in the right hands everyone prospers, but in the wrong hands they can and have been used as tools of oppression.
In the process of accepting technological innovations and developments in AI, we must be conscious of these perils and safeguard against them. We must look at how our lives have improved from tech developments every single time when tech is applied in a conscious and appropriate way.
As with any tools, it is our responsibility to use the power of our minds and our creativity to find the best application for tech innovations. When used ethically and intentionally, tech will ensure a brighter future for everyone.
And the more people there are like Chester Santos who are striving to use their minds to their fullest processing power, the better off our world will be. Happy brain training!
