7 replies to this topic

[Imagination]

My current exam I am doing requires lots of definitions to memorize word for word and pretty much quote back in the exam. I'm stuggling to learn this stuff, if it was something interesting or something technical I am normally ok with it.

I'm more of a learn by doing sort of person rather than learn by reading, i.e. question practice rather than just reading. I know some people that can just read something and quote it back pretty easily but find the technical side of things difficult.

Are there any good nootropics that would be best memorziation of words. Techniques would be good too if anybody has any?

Currently i'm taking, DMAE, Piracetam, tyrosine, vinpocetine, and huperzine on occasion. plus the basics like vits, which it is working well for to get my head around technical concepts and application.

Thanks

[meursault]

http://ichi2.net/anki/ - spaced repetition flashcard software

[kassem23]

Well.. Myself being a college student I find that the easiest way to memorize terms is through the use of mnemonics.

You could dig up some sites on the internet, but they probably wont give you much for your money or research. The only site for memory improvement that really works is "pmemory".. They show you all the techniques.. You can join the forum and check out the free e-book where all techniques are mentioned on the website. You can even PM me if you have any specific questions.

In regards to memorizing these terms.. It has to be mentioned that it is extremely important that you focus on UNDERSTANDING and then memorizing through your UNDERSTANDING.. Nobody remembers everything they read unless they have some conceptual UNDERSTANDING so this is the first step. The second step is to form visual images, 3D, large, colorful and detailed that you imagine in your brain and then link these images together..The images can pierce each other or you can zoom in on them etc etc.. All the techniques is explained in great detail in their program.. I've remembered this sentence from wikipedia about Neurotransmitters, just by using my imagination and some techniques :-) It's pretty impressive.

"Neurotransmitters are endogenous chemicals that relay, amplify and modulate signals between a neuron and another cell" - this took me about 20 seconds to remember, because I already have some UNDERSTANDING of the terms involved. It will be more difficult for people who don't have conceptual UNDERSTANDING of what a neuron is and so on.. Whenever you are in doubt of what a picture will look like.. You can use some of the techniques to encode the difficult words that makes no sense, or you can just ask your brain: "How do I go about memorizing this?" and then your brain usually gives you an image and you just stick with it.. In my mind when I do this I look at the different images and then I say the definition out loud or write it, then it makes a connection and I can remember it easily...

Anyways I hope that helps.. I know it seems like a lot of work, but as soon as you get the hang of it.. Boy it's genius.. :-)

If there is any definitions that you need help with, just give me a PM.

Best of luck.

[wildfun]

This might sound stupid and perverted but I'm in accounting so I know all about studying boring technical stuff. Whenever I have to remember a lot of theory like for my auditing courses I masturbate while reviewing my notes. Flash cards help too. The hard part is not letting your mind wander, so you're constantly in a heightened state of arousal and you keep interested in the material. The recall is always much easier for me on the exam the next day. Possibly because I wasn't feeling so stressed out when I was trying to cram. Maybe this is easier for girls, I know one of my girlfriend's said she does this too with great success. So the ladies in accounting aren't as boring as you might think! Sometimes I'll finish before I mean to and just want to go to sleep, so try to avoid that. Making up acronyms and little rhymes to help memorization whenever you can helps too.

[acantelopepope]

This might sound stupid and perverted but I'm in accounting so I know all about studying boring technical stuff. Whenever I have to remember a lot of theory like for my auditing courses I masturbate while reviewing my notes. Flash cards help too. The hard part is not letting your mind wander, so you're constantly in a heightened state of arousal and you keep interested in the material. The recall is always much easier for me on the exam the next day. Possibly because I wasn't feeling so stressed out when I was trying to cram. Maybe this is easier for girls, I know one of my girlfriend's said she does this too with great success. So the ladies in accounting aren't as boring as you might think! Sometimes I'll finish before I mean to and just want to go to sleep, so try to avoid that. Making up acronyms and little rhymes to help memorization whenever you can helps too.

LOL that's a new one...

[Imagination]

This might sound stupid and perverted but I'm in accounting so I know all about studying boring technical stuff. Whenever I have to remember a lot of theory like for my auditing courses I masturbate while reviewing my notes. Flash cards help too. The hard part is not letting your mind wander, so you're constantly in a heightened state of arousal and you keep interested in the material. The recall is always much easier for me on the exam the next day. Possibly because I wasn't feeling so stressed out when I was trying to cram. Maybe this is easier for girls, I know one of my girlfriend's said she does this too with great success. So the ladies in accounting aren't as boring as you might think! Sometimes I'll finish before I mean to and just want to go to sleep, so try to avoid that. Making up acronyms and little rhymes to help memorization whenever you can helps too.

ha ha, i'll try that in the library!

[alexd]

I think Kassems suggestions are very good.

In addition you might try taking Bacopa. I was skeptical after reading about it here. Stil I figured it was cheap and people actually said it works.

After about a month of taking an extract of it. I figured it was not doing much so I stopped. Thats when I noticed that my memery was decreasing from a higher state.

When I ordered it next I ordered a non extract version, I did not feel much so I went from two caps a day to four split between am and pm.

What's fun is that I can pull names out of my memory with ease.

I found it to be superior to the extract. Something about the full spectrum of the plant being additive in it's effects.

So it works and I found no noticable side effects.

Unfortunatly it does not hit you right away. I read it takes about a month. This seems reasonable.

I ordered it from Swanson's vitamins online. Costs 4.99 dollars. When they have a sale it is a lot cheaper.

I also take provigil but the effects of Bacopa seem to be additive to it.

Good luck.

Edited by alexd, 10 November 2009 - 06:35 PM.

[Legal_Imbroglio]

If you go "czukles" route, use SuperMemo. (http://www.supermemo.../help/index.htm) While it has a steep learning curve, it's better for long-term memory. Unfortunately, a supplement will not do the memorization for you. Repetition is the best way (that I've found).