Thread by @RGottliebSmith

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#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

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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!)

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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/

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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

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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

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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…

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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!

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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

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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

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Do you use mnemonics in teaching or learning?

Comment 👇: why or why not?

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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