Reader’s Digest UK – August 2019

WHEN PEOPLE GO BACK to their
old school, they often say that it’s the
smell they remember most. But all
our senses stimulate memories, and
we should use them more. Our brains
perform better when we stop relying
purely on what we see.
Novelist Marcel Proust tasted a
madeleine cake and was taken on an
intense journey through his memory.
Babies get attached to the texture of
particular fabrics. Our brains are hard-
wired to use senses to help us learn.
Start by noticing more of the sense
information around you—the sounds,
for example, or textures you feel when
you’re gardening or folding clothes.
Next, start using senses to explore
your existing memories. When you
taste a favourite flavour, see if it takes
you back to a moment from the past.
Like Proust, you’ll probably find other
senses are activated, too.
Your brain can even recreate sense
experiences at will. Amazingly, you
react to them almost as if they were
real. And the better you can do this,
the more you can use your senses to
help you remember. Try it now.
Visualise your favourite food, then
add other senses: how it feels to pick

it up; the sound it makes when it’s

cooking; its smell; and the taste when

you imagine taking a bite. Notice how

all of this makes you feel—even

though it’s happening purely in your

mind. Then practise with the

following list. Spend a few moments

imagining senses associated with

each word. You might focus on the

texture of the carpet, or the taste of

the popcorn, for example.

CARPET, POPCORN, LEMON,

VIOLIN, BABY, MONEY, SLEEP,

FARM, COLD, HAPPINESS

Then cover the words and look at the

second list below. Use your senses to

help recognise the ones you saw

earlier, and spot the two new words.

BABY, COLD, VIOLIN, CHEESE,

HAPPINESS, CARPET, POPCORN,

SAND, LEMON, FARM

Start making more of your senses and

you’ll add richness to your memory. n

Jonathan’s new book, The Study Book, is

out now from John Murray Learning

54 • AUGUST 2019

H E A LTH

Enrich your recall by using your senses to the full,

says our memory expert, Jonathan Hancock

How To Make Sense Of Your Memories