Impressions gained through your senses are crucial for your memory. The more of your senses sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell you can use, the more fields in the brain you use, and the more vividly you can remember
Memory of Sense Impressions
Sight
You often look without seeing. To increase your visual observation abilities you need to train your mind. You need to concentrate your will and attention on the subjects or items you want to remember, and combine your will and attention with interest. See things distinctly, recall the details afterwards, and try to associate with other things that you already know.
- Hearing
As with sight, your hearing can be trained and developed.
You can hear and remember the faintest sound if you focus your attention and interest on it.
If you really try to remember words and sentences spoken, you will increase your concentration and attention. Pick out words that you decide to remember. Repeat these words with the intention of memorising them. Then you will get into the habit of listening more attentively and actively.
Combine sight and sound: Write the word or sentence down. Then read it aloud. Try to see the word when you hear it. Link your sight and sound impressions. In other words - associate!
- Smell
Some people are very sensitive to odours and what they smell, and can immediately recall an event when they smell an odour associated with it. Many women can for example vividly associate a man with a certain aftershave. Again, if you are able to strengthen the impression of an object by smelling something, you will remember better.
- Touch and taste
Some people need to touch things, items or persons to remember them. If you can associate an item with taste, all the better. The more vividly the memory of sense impression is, the more vivid your memory.
- Research clearly shows that when you manage to use your senses and your creative skills you learn more and better. Arts and culture are not only subjects, they are also tools to to help you become a better student.
Arts education has positive impacts on the learning environment, has distinct benefits for health and socio-cultural wellbeing, "enhances overall academic skills, reduces school disaffection and promotes positive cognitive transfer".
(Bamford, A. (2006) The Wow factor.)
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