re: Tests, theses and papers

[P3D Gabriel Jacob <jacob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

William Carter writes

>Since tests and testing seems to be a hot item for discussion, I'd like to 
>throw one more out there:
>I've talked to a few of you off line, and none of "us" is aware of any tests 
>linking memory retention to 3-D (Jim?!?). It seems obvious that such a link 
>exists.
>
>I've taken tests where they show a bunch of strange little figures. Later I'm 
>asked to redraw as many from memory as I can. What if these figures 
>were formed out of wire so that they would have a 3-D element, would the 
>3-D figures be more memorable than the 2-D equivalents? By how much?

By quite a bit. Never thought about the 3d aspect relating to memory
but that is another very important factor in memory retention or
mnemonics. This is the science of remembering using a "system".
It was well known to the Greeks in ancient times. (The Republic of
Plato?) They would remember for example a list of objects by placing
them in different locations of an imaginary house and were able to
recite the list of things (objects, concepts or whatever) by retracing
in their mind their route thru the house using visualization. This is
of course the key to mnemonics. Example try to remember a list of lets
say 20 everyday objects in 5 minutes or less. Kind of hard. But with
mnemonics this would be very easy. With slightly more advanced mnemonic
systems you could even recite the list backwards or name them in any
order, example by position in the list.

Now how to you go about remembering the list. First as was mentioned
is visualization. So for example if the first object on the list
was a box. What you would do is visualize a box in your mind. You could
also imagine the box with having a very deep bottom in 3d. Now if the
second thing on the list is a rabbit. Visualize it in your mind as well
as possible. Use your imagination and do whatever you want. Think of a
10 foot white rabbit (exaggeration also helps to remember things, why
do you think there is a green giant peddling niblets. Because you won't
forget that brand) smiling and being in the box! This is the second key
to remembering the list, association. Association links the things in the
list to each other and creates a story. Anyways you get the point and as I
don't want to write a paper, will try to keep it short!  All I would like 
to POINT OUT (imagine my finger sticking out at you in 3d) is that the 3d
aspect is very important. Remember above the retracing of the path in the
house? This is done in 3d dimensions, perspective as well as stereoscopically.
The latter is not usually emphasized in mnemonic literature but as we in this
group are keenly aware of it, we can use this added dimension to further 
etch the experience in our minds. BTW I think Larry Berlin would be a
good candidate or test subject for this test, as he lives and dreams in
3d. Larry was do you think? ;-)

Gabriel

 





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