1/
#MedTwitter: ever learn a mnemonic that you can’t remember 5 minutes later? 🙋♀️
What makes a mnemonic useful (or not)?
A 🧵 about the good – and the bad – of mnemonics
#MedEd #NeuroTwitter #Tweetorial
#MedTwitter: ever learn a mnemonic that you can’t remember 5 minutes later? 🙋♀️
What makes a mnemonic useful (or not)?
A 🧵 about the good – and the bad – of mnemonics
#MedEd #NeuroTwitter #Tweetorial
2/
First, some background:
Mnemonic = relating to memory
Mnemonic devices/techniques (often called mnemonics for short) = memory aids or strategies that help with recall
Goal: transition info from working memory to long-term memory (and then be able to retrieve it later!)
First, some background:
Mnemonic = relating to memory
Mnemonic devices/techniques (often called mnemonics for short) = memory aids or strategies that help with recall
Goal: transition info from working memory to long-term memory (and then be able to retrieve it later!)
3/
Let’s review 3 mnemonic techniques:
1⃣ Method of loci AKA “memory palace”
▪️ Type of imagery mnemonic
▪️ Info mentally placed at important landmarks along an imagined path ➡️ recall by re-tracing the route
▪️ Vivid images are helpful
Image from pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33613393/
Let’s review 3 mnemonic techniques:
1⃣ Method of loci AKA “memory palace”
▪️ Type of imagery mnemonic
▪️ Info mentally placed at important landmarks along an imagined path ➡️ recall by re-tracing the route
▪️ Vivid images are helpful
Image from pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33613393/
4/
Method of loci pros:
▪️ What “memory athletes” use
▪️ Seems to work after 6 weeks of training:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33658191/
⚠️ Need to pick a familiar place - may be challenging to find one in common if trying to use same "palace" for a large group
Method of loci pros:
▪️ What “memory athletes” use
▪️ Seems to work after 6 weeks of training:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33658191/
⚠️ Need to pick a familiar place - may be challenging to find one in common if trying to use same "palace" for a large group
5/
2⃣ Chunking = break up larger list into smaller chunks
▪️ Try for 3-5 chunks
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20445769/
▪️ Classic: learning a US phone # by area code ➡️ next 3 digits ➡️ last 4
▪️ Can help chunk info for learners by creating an agenda/”chunking map”
▪️ Acronyms & acrostics
2⃣ Chunking = break up larger list into smaller chunks
▪️ Try for 3-5 chunks
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20445769/
▪️ Classic: learning a US phone # by area code ➡️ next 3 digits ➡️ last 4
▪️ Can help chunk info for learners by creating an agenda/”chunking map”
▪️ Acronyms & acrostics
6/
Acronym = abbreviation from 1st letters, pronounced as a word
◾️ Ex: AIDS for acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Acrostic = use 1st letters of items to make a new, memorable sentence or phrase
◾️Ex: "To Zanzibar By Motor Car": 5 facial nerve branches
radiopaedia.org/articles/facia…
Acronym = abbreviation from 1st letters, pronounced as a word
◾️ Ex: AIDS for acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Acrostic = use 1st letters of items to make a new, memorable sentence or phrase
◾️Ex: "To Zanzibar By Motor Car": 5 facial nerve branches
radiopaedia.org/articles/facia…
7/
Chunking pros:
▪️ Chunks recalled better than random lists pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29698045/
⚠️ Sometimes can remember acronyms & acrostics but not what they represent ➡️ may need an additional link
⚠️ Watch out for too many chunks!
Chunking pros:
▪️ Chunks recalled better than random lists pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29698045/
⚠️ Sometimes can remember acronyms & acrostics but not what they represent ➡️ may need an additional link
⚠️ Watch out for too many chunks!
8/
3⃣ Music & rhymes
▪️ Use acoustic encoding
▪️ Rhymes: another reason why “To Zanzibar By Motor Car” sticks!
▪️ Check out this song to help with learning the brachial plexus by @UMICHNeuroRes & #umichchildneuro alums:
@NotoriousEMG @zach_london
3⃣ Music & rhymes
▪️ Use acoustic encoding
▪️ Rhymes: another reason why “To Zanzibar By Motor Car” sticks!
▪️ Check out this song to help with learning the brachial plexus by @UMICHNeuroRes & #umichchildneuro alums:
@NotoriousEMG @zach_london
9/
Music & rhymes pros:
▪️ Sung texts better than spoken for recall:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25951905/
⚠️ In this study, written was associated w/ better recall than spoken or sung (but comprehension better w/ sung):
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29375429/
⚠️ A familiar melody may be important
Music & rhymes pros:
▪️ Sung texts better than spoken for recall:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25951905/
⚠️ In this study, written was associated w/ better recall than spoken or sung (but comprehension better w/ sung):
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29375429/
⚠️ A familiar melody may be important
10/
Do you use mnemonics in teaching or learning?
Comment 👇: why or why not?
Do you use mnemonics in teaching or learning?
Comment 👇: why or why not?
11/
What’s your favorite medical mnemonic?
Key points:
🔑 Goal: working ➡️ long-term memory, for later recall
🔑 3 commonly used: method of loci, chunking (including acronyms & acrostics), music & rhymes
🔑 Creativity & humor are helpful – please keep it appropriate
What’s your favorite medical mnemonic?
Key points:
🔑 Goal: working ➡️ long-term memory, for later recall
🔑 3 commonly used: method of loci, chunking (including acronyms & acrostics), music & rhymes
🔑 Creativity & humor are helpful – please keep it appropriate
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
