Loci's Swag Palace of Memory
By Swagmasters: David Johnson and Matt Demers
Why is Loci's memory palace so swag?
We chose to research about Loci's "Memory Palace" because the history behind it fascinates us. The main use of the memory palace is to help people retain information. Accessing this memory palace can help to strengthen our memories. We would like for everyone to have access to this memory building phenomenon.
What exactly is the memory palace?
Loci's memory palace is a mnemonic device in which we associate memories with physical locations. An example of this is when the man we viewed a Ted Talk where the man memorized his entire speech using only Loci's memory palace technique.
Look inside your swag brain!
All of these parts are being used: the cerebellum, cerebrum, hippocampus, and the brain stem. None of the parts of the brain are failing during the mnemonic process. The brain is associating certain key points in a speech or something similar to concrete items that can be visualized. Most the the theories addressing the memory palace are generally the same. They only slightly differ on minor details.
Researchers
Some scientists that have researched about Loci's memory palace are john Skoyles and Dorion Sagan. They have concluded that this technique originated with the story of Simonides. Another researcher, Verlee Williams, says that Loci was a greek poet living around 500 and 600 B.C.
Interesting Stuff!
The story of Simonides: Simonides was an ancient greek orator who once went to recite a poem at a party. Once he was done with his speech, he left the building, but upon exiting, the entire building collapsed behind him. This tragic event killed everyone inside. The only one who could identify the bodies inside were Simonides. He was able to do so by creating a visual map of the building and remembering exactly where every guest was sitting.
People who use the method of Loci do so by creating a visual map of their own "memory palace." They then associate parts of the palace with major points in their speeches.
This mnemonic technique also allows for some people to even memorize decks of cards.
Joshua Foer: Feats of memory anyone can do: TED Talk