How to improve your memory with Mind Maps – An Overview

While there are numerous methods to improve your memory, Mind Maps are definitely the ultimate memory enhanching tools. It is not for nothing that Tony Buzan, the inventor of the Mind Map, calls it the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of the brain. To understand how your memory works, you have to understand how the brain is structured and how it works.

The brain looks pretty much like a walnut and is divided into two halfs. It is widely believed by many scientists that the left brain is largely responsible for the logical functions such as words, numbers, sequence, linearity, analysis and lists.

The right brain, is largely responsible for rhythm, spatial awareness, dimension, imagination, daydreaming, colour and holistic awareness (gestalt).

While this structure may not be entirely true, as the whole brain actually performs all of these functions to some degree, all these functions are needed when wanting to improve memory. Simply using the ‘left brain’ functions become too boring and structured and using only ‘right brain’ functions causes vibrance and colour, but also chaos.

It is only by leveraging both left brain and right brain functions that you can improve your memory.

The two main requirements for a good memory system are association and imagination.

A Mind Map naturally stimulates the imagination and as the branches are linked, it naturally forms associations.

A Mind Map naturally includes spatial awareness as each item is placed in a unique place on the Mind Mind Map. By remembering the location, your are naturally using association powers to associate the information with position.

Each Mind Map is unique and contains these two characteristics in abundance, forming the ultimate Mnemonic to improve your memory.

If you are not sure what a Mind Map is, then look for our article describing what a Mind Map is and what a Mind Map is not.