Mnemonic Devices Memory Tools

Mnemonic Devices Memory Tools

  • Home
  • Categories
  • What is a mnemonic device?
  • Resources
  • About
  • Submit
You are here: Home > What is a mnemonic device?

What is a mnemonic device?

Mnemonics (pronounced “ne-mon’-ics") assist the memory, using a system of rhymes, rules, phrases, diagrams, or acronyms. These devices help to remember, memorize, and recall information such as names, dates, facts, or figures. They do that by turning original information into an easy, more appealing rhyme or sentence. This can be stored in your brain as an easy reference for larger “meaningful" chunks of data. When you need to recall the original facts you can, by translating the mnemonic memory.

For example: “Roy G Biv" helps you reproduce the names and order of the colors of the rainbow. Every letter stands for a color (i.e., R for Red, O for Orange, etc.).
The order is preserved by the somewhat meaningless sentence Roy G Biv.
For some reason, we as humans remember relatively nonsensical combinations even better than we retain the complete, original information.

In Summary

– The information is translated into “meaningful" parts (chunked)
– Then it is stored in our brain
– Once 
recalled (remembered) it can be re-translated into the original data

Variations

Other names for a mnemonic device are memory tool, memorization aid, aid to memory, memory device, learning device, learning trick, or brain tool. They are all names for the same thing, an easy way to help use your memory, or memorize, more effectively.

There is even a mnemonic for spelling the word “mnemonic."

Interesting Fact

Sometimes it’s confused with a pneumonic device, which is medical equipment used to help with respiratory problems.

From Wikipedia
A mnemonic (pron.: /nəˈmɒnɨk/,[1] with a silent “m”), or mnemonic device, is any learning technique that aids information retention. Mnemonics aim to translate information into a form that the human brain can retain better than its original form. Even the process of applying this conversion might already aid the transfer of information to long-term memory. Commonly encountered mnemonics are often for lists and in auditory forms, such as short poems, acronyms, or memorable phrases, but mnemonics can also be for other types of information and in visual or kinesthetic forms. Their use is based on the observation that the human mind more easily remembers spatial, personal, surprising, physical, sexual, humorous, or otherwise “relatable" information, rather than more abstract or impersonal forms of information.

The word mnemonic is derived from the Ancient Greek word μνημονικός (mnēmonikos), meaning “of memory”[2] and is related to Mnemosyne (“remembrance”), the name of the goddess of memory in Greek mythology. Both of these words are derived from μνήμη (mnēmē), “remembrance, memory.”[3] Mnemonics in antiquity were most often considered in the context of what is today known as the Art of memory.
Ancient Greeks and Romans distinguished between two types of memory: the “natural" memory and the “artificial" memory. The former is inborn and is the one that everyone uses automatically and without thinking. The artificial memory in contrast has to be trained and developed through the learning and practicing of a variety of mnemonic techniques.
Mnemonic systems are special techniques or strategies consciously used to improve memory; it helps employ information already stored in long-term memory to make memorization an easier task

For other interesting sites, see the source page.

« Previous mnemonic
Next mnemonic »

Return to top of page

Mnemonic Device Est. © 1998 -2021 · Disclaimer / (free) copyright

 
  • More Info

    today's popular mnemonics

    • The first 20 elements of the periodic table
    • Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
    • Prefixes of the Metric System
    • Wind Directions: North, East, South, West
    • The names of the twelve disciples
    • Phases of Mitosis
    • Mnemonic Devices for the Periodic Table
    • Presidents of the USA
    • Levels of the atmosphere
    • Mnemonics for the order of the planets orbiting the Sun

    mnemonic categories

    • Arithmetic
      • Multiply
      • Operations
      • Pi
      • Trigonometry
    • Astronomy
      • Moon
      • Order of planets
    • Bible
    • Big History
    • Biology
      • Life
      • Mitosis
      • Taxonomy
    • Chemistry
      • Alkanes
      • Periodic table
      • Redox
      • Safety
    • Computer
      • OSI layers
    • Economics
    • Geography
    • Geology
    • History
      • Presidents
    • Languages
      • Spelling words
      • English
      • French
      • German
      • Japanese
      • Latin
      • Spanish
    • Law
    • Literature
    • Medical
      • Cranial nerves
      • Psychology
    • Music
    • Navigation
    • Other
    • Physics
      • Electronics
      • Metric
      • Spectrum / Rainbow
    • Scouting
    • Time
    • Traffic
    • Weather

    most popular

    • Mnemonics for the order of the planets orbiting the Sun 441.6k views | under Astronomy, Order of planets
    • Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species 370.6k views | under Taxonomy
    • The first 20 elements of the periodic table 213.3k views | under Periodic table
    • Prefixes of the Metric System 168.9k views | under Metric
    • ROY G. BIV 52.8k views | under Spectrum, Weather
    • Mnemonic Devices for the Periodic Table 50.2k views | under Periodic table
    • On Old Olympus’ Towering Top A Fin, A German, Viewed A Hop 49.2k views | under Cranial nerves
    • Phases of Mitosis 39.5k views | under Mitosis
    • May I have a large container of coffee? 37.5k views | under Pi
    • Song: Periodic Table of Elements 36.3k views | under Periodic table
  • Popular Pages

    • More mnemonic devices on other websites
    • Mnemonic MNEMONICS in English, Languages, Spelling words
    • Mnemonic device About
    • Mnemonic device Share your mnemonic device!
    • Mnemonic devices for History
 
  • Privacy Policy