Our brains evolved to code and interpret complex stimuli into the complex models of the world that we live in. Knowing that, it makes sense to feed our minds an extremely wide array of information, so we develop bigger and better models for learning and understanding. Memory is a big part of making use of that information.

Memory itself makes use of various "triggers," known as "mnemonics."

These include:

- tastes

- touch

- positions

- emotions

- language

- images

- colors

- structures

- sounds

- smells

There are several ways you can make your mnemonics more effective. Learning to use these techniques effectively will really boost your memory skills, allowing you to remember a lot more than you thought possible.

- Use positive, pleasing images. Our brains often block out things that are unpleasant.

- Use vivid, sense-laden imagery -these are easier to rememberthan drab ones.

- Give your image three dimensions, movement and space to makeit more vivid. You can use movement either to maintain the flow of association, or to help you to remember actions or a sequence of events.

- Exaggerate the size of important parts of the image. If your mind thinks of them as being bigger, then you will remember them more easily.

- Make it funny! Make up jokes using facts and figures you needto recall. Humorous, odd or bizarre things are much easier to remember than plain, pedestrian ones.

- Make up rhymes such as the one we all learned in elementary school, "30 days hath September?"

- Symbols (red traffic lights, pointing fingers, road signs,etc.) can code complex messages quickly and effectively.

- Use word association. Picture a microphone to remember Mike's name.

You can also try associating the information with a smell, which is something our brains already do instinctively. After you develop the habit, it will be easy to remember new information this way.

"Tack" words. It works well for everything. You "tack" a certain word or image to whatever it is that you want to recall, and the image itself becomes your mnemonic.

A well-known way for memorizing lists is by using acronyms. We're all familiar with "ROY G. BIV" for the colors of the rainbow, with each letter in the acronym standing in for its corresponding color on the rainbow, in order. The same technique will work for any list you need to remember.

Make up a tune for the information, or sing the words you need to remember to music you know and love. If it rhymes, it'll work even better.

Remember that every day, people successfully use the following memory enhancers to help them recall what they need to know:

- alarms

- timers

- planners

- calendars

- notes

- bulletin boards

- voicemail reminders

- brain entrainment

- secretaries, assistants, coworkers, family and friends

So, give mnemonics a try and see how much you can remember!