• Home
  • Memory Games
  • Puzzle Games
  • Word Games
  • All Online Games
  • Memory Loss Resources
    • Blog
    • Media

Peg Memory and Mnemonics Explained

  1. Home
  2. Blog Posts
  3. How to Improve Memory
  4. Peg Memory and Mnemonics Explained

Memory capacity and retention has less to do with sheer brainpower than it does with the tricks one can employ to get around a poor memory.  These tricks, called Mnemonics (pronounced nee-MON-iks), aren’t just tricks – but are more like links, cues, and associations – almost like a hyperlink you can click while surfing the internet.  Click a link, and another page pops up on your computer screen; the same goes for your brain.

The word mnemonics actually means, “aiding the memory.”  Mnemonics are simple techniques used to help you remember what you want to.  Whether they where aware of it or not, many people have been using mnemonics even before they could spell the word.  Simple numeric rhymes like “one two, buckle my shoe, three four, shut the door, five six, pick up sticks” have been helping us remember important things since grammar school.

There are several methods within the study of mnemonics that one can employ loosely to help remember things that are important.  The simplest of these methods is a system of associations called “peg words.”  With peg words, you literally hang your memories on to pegs.  By attaching memories to simple peg words, we can help bring forth our desired memories just by thinking of their associated peg words.However, these techniques aren’t exclusive only to grammar school students.  In fact, as children we remembered things a lot easier than we do in our adult years – and mnemonics can play an integral role in reviving the memory capacity we commanded as children.  In high school algebra, rhymes like “please excuse my dear aunt Sally” were used to remember factorial systems, and “Spring forward, Fall back” has been aiding forgetful adults remember to adjust their clocks according to daylight savings.

To give the readers a taste of what the peg system of mnemonics can do, let’s try a simple exercise.  The goal is to remember a list of ten words in order.  Although this may sound hard, it becomes infinitely easier by using peg words.

The words you need to recall appear in the list below – hint: the pegs for remembering the words are the numbers one through ten.  Slowly read through the list one at a time, and as you do, think of the numbers one, two, three….all the way through ten.

  1. Bun
  2. Clue
  3. Bee
  4. More
  5. Jive
  6. Mix
  7. Kevin
  8. Fate
  9. Lime
  10. Men

Now cover the list or close your eyes – no peaking!  Try to remember the words in order, thinking of the numbers one through ten as you do.  You’ll soon notice that going through the list just once prior to quizzing yourselves will suffice.  While if you tried to remember the list without attaching peg words – it would definitely take more than a quick once over.

Another benefit of this system is being able to recall any of the words out of order without having to run through the entire list in your mind.  If you want to think of the word “gate,” just simply think of the number eight.

13 years ago
Staff Writer
How to Improve Memory, Memorization Techniques
1 Comment
memory improvement, mnemonics, peg memory
Previous Post
Memory Improvement With Less Calories?
Next Post
Understanding Memory Pt. 1 – The 3 Stage Process

Related Posts

A Cure for Alzheimer’s?
April 14, 2011
Good Study Habits Anyone Can Use
January 7, 2017
Effective Memorization Techniques That Actually Work
March 20, 2017
Memories Related to Your Hearing
April 16, 2011

1 Comment. Leave new

  • Avatar for mohd fauzi mohd rosli
    mohd fauzi mohd rosli
    February 27, 2010 2:27 am

    I’ve tried to use the pegging technique to study physics and chemistry but it didn’t work for me. I guess the technique only works for things which do not require understanding like history and remembering simple things.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fill out this field
Fill out this field
Please enter a valid email address.

Search this site

Categories

  • Action Games (4)
  • Adventure Games (3)
  • Bingo Games (3)
  • Blog Posts (153)
    • Attention and Focus (3)
    • How to Improve Memory (113)
      • Brain Foods (11)
      • Long-Term Memory (31)
      • Memorization Techniques (22)
      • Short-Term Memory (31)
      • Study Skills (3)
      • Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements (16)
    • Memory Loss (58)
      • Amnesia (6)
  • Brain Games (81)
    • Block Games (3)
    • Geography Games (8)
    • Math Games (23)
    • Memory Games (18)
    • Puzzle Games (18)
    • Sudoku Games (1)
    • Word Games (9)
  • Car Games (10)
    • Crash Games (1)
    • Driving Games (3)
    • Racing Games (4)
      • Drag Racing Games (1)
    • Traffic Games (2)
  • Casino Games (8)
  • Casual Games (8)
  • Classic Games (10)
    • Arcade Games (2)
    • Board Games (4)
  • Endless Games (5)
  • Flying Games (6)
  • Focus and Concentration Games (6)
  • Jumping Games (8)
  • Matching Games (30)
  • Physics Games (8)
  • Reflex and Reaction Games (15)
  • Relaxing Games (5)
  • Running Games (12)
  • Shooting Games (4)
  • Simple Games (6)
  • Sports Games (10)
    • Dart Games (3)
    • Fishing Games (2)
    • Pool and Billiards Games (3)
  • Tapping Games (17)
  • Tower Defense Games (5)
  • War Games (2)

Let’s get social!

Facebook
Twitter

Recent Comments

  • lad on Tricky Cups
  • Andy on Pattern I
  • B on Two Sides
  • flameus on Tricky Cups
  • Gerard Way on Count the Sheep II
  • ur mom on Count the Sheep II

Tag Cloud

Addictive Games alzheimers Animal Games Brain Games for Adults brain memory Calming Games Candy Games Chill Games Clicking Games cognitive training Crazy Games Cute Games Easy Games Educational Games Fast Paced Games Flag Games Food Games fun brain teasers Games to Play in the Car Games to Play When Bored improving memory IQ Games Isometric Games Learning Games Match 3 Games Matching Card Games memory improvement Memory Recall Mind Games Minimalistic Games nootropics Number Games One Player Games Pixel Games Popular Games Quiz Games Safe Games School Games Scroller Games Simulator Games Thinking Games Timing Games Visual Games ways to improve memory Zombie Games

Recent Posts

  • 8 Incredible Women in Neurology That Changed the Game
  • How Epilepsy Can Affect Memory
  • Do Brain Games Really Work?
  • The Method of Loci (AKA Memory Palace Technique) – What You Need to Know
  • The Truth About Repressed Memories
  • The Rote Learning Method – What You Need to Know
  • 12 Crazy Facts About the Human Brain That May Be Hard to Believe
  • What is Eidetic Memory?

About ImproveMemory.org

We strive to offer the best free browser games that are appropriate for both children and adults. Although not all of our games are educational in nature, we believe that playing interactive games can be relaxing, fun, and stimulating.

If there is something that we can improve, please tell us how we can do better using the form on our contact page.

Facebook
Twitter

Copyright © ImproveMemory.org

Home  |  About  |  Privacy Policy  |  Sitemap  |  Contact

We use cookies and similar technologies to recognize your repeat visits and preferences, as well as to measure the effectiveness of campaigns and analyze traffic. By clicking "I Accept" on this banner, or using our site, you consent to the use of cookies unless you have disabled them. Privacy Policy