A Reliable Memory Method Based on Ancient Practices
Pictures are more powerful memory stimulators than words.
Posted May 13, 2026 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma
Memory is the premier determiner of who we are and how we think. As Samuel Johnson put it in 1759 , “Memory is the primary and fundamental power without which there could be no other intellectual operation. "
One has to spend only a few minutes in conversation with someone unfortunate enough to be suffering from Alzheimer’s or one of the other dementias affecting memory to appreciate the accuracy of Johnson’s statement. Serious memory lapses interfere with the ability to recall past events, put current happenings in context, or imagine possible future scenarios. When we lose our capacity to do any of these things, our memory falters and, if the brain dysfunction is sufficient, disappears altogether.
Fortunately, we can exert considerable control over our memory powers . Systems for memory enhancement, while traceable at least as far back as the Greeks , are all based on three principles.
First, we can’t remember anything clearly unless we pay attention to it. “The true art of memory is the art of attention,” as Johnson described the process.
Second, pictures or other visual depictions are more easily remembered than verbal descriptions. Think of a parrot, for instance. Now describe it for me. Your description will be based on your best efforts, remembering the parrots you have encountered throughout your life. But unless you are an avian veterinarian or parrot aficionado well acquainted with parrots, the description you come up with will likely be deficient in distinguishing the two key features of parrots. Parrots differ from other birds by 1) the possession of a curved hook-like beak and 2) the arrangement of the toes with two toes facing forward and two toes pointing backward (zygodactyl). Neither of these features can be appreciated by simply glancing at the bird. What’s required is attending to the bird until you’re able to distinguish two notable differences between parrots and the rest of the avian population—their three toes forward, one toe backward (anisodactyl). Noticing such things requires the art of attention that Johnson referred to as the basis of memory.
Third, we remember best dramatic, exaggerated, or surreal visual depictions. Take the breed of my dog, a Schipperke. When I found myself frequently faltering when asked Leah’s breed, I thought of a small toy boat not bigger than six inches or so in length, with a tiny captain dressed in uniform and holding a giant key in his hand: Skipper (in boat) with key. With that image in mind, I have no problem immediately coming up with Leah’s breed.
Here is an exercise based on the three principles mentioned above. If applied regularly, it will increase your memory and your powers of imagination .
Memorize these words: brochure, necktie, train station, whistle, Ace of Diamonds, willow tree, boxing glove, Ferrari, firefighter, and wedding. Without a system similar to the one I’m about to suggest, you will likely have to go over those words repeatedly for a lengthy period, which will vary from one person to another.
A much quicker way of remembering the words is to take advantage of the fact that pictures and drawings are easier to remember than verbal descriptions. Here is my method. Take the words and mentally incorporate them into a two-act play that you’ve imagined. Here is the play I created:
In the first act, the firefighter is preparing for his wedding, associated with dressing up and wearing a necktie. He rents a Ferrari to impress all the wedding guests and plans the ceremony to be outdoors near a willow tree.
In the second act of the play, the firefighter drives his new bride in the Ferrari to the train station. The station is totally surreal: shaped like a boxing glove. The firefighter and his new bride sit in the Ferrari perusing a brochure to decide where to go for their honeymoon (they both like spontaneity). He is holding in one hand the ace of diamonds, which he hopes will convey to his bride his wish that they go to a city where gambling is available. At this point, the conductor steps out of the train and blows the whistle for everyone to board before the train leaves the station.
A rather simple story, right? Nothing complicated, nothing likely to earn you a Pulitzer Prize for drama. But it contains highly visual, even bizarre, elements that are best suited to remembering the words embedded in the story.
As with all dramas, this one contains people. If you are trying to learn a list of a dozen or more words and none of the words refer to a person or persons, introduce one or two characters on your own (as I did with the bride and the train conductor), who can help carry out the actions of the story.
Can anyone “prove” that becoming skilled in such exercises will fend off dementia ? Of course not. At present, there is no way of guaranteeing that anyone may not eventually develop Alzheimer’s. But in my many years of neurologic practice, I’ve never encountered a patient with highly tuned memory skills who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Put another way, a poor memory doesn’t necessarily imply Alzheimer’s, but a well-functioning memory virtually eliminates it as a consideration.
By using memory methods such as those suggested above, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Improving your memory will depend on applying a system, such as what I have provided in this essay (the memory theatre). Practice using it every day. It should prove effective, and also provide a fun and challenging approach to improving not only your memory, but also your creativity and visuospatial function. The plays formulated in your imagination may be initially difficult to create, but they will get easier with each new creation. The goal is to help you develop a memory skill set that focuses your attention, engages your interest, and arouses your enthusiasm.
Richard M. Restak, M.D.
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Richard Restak, MD , is Clinical Professor of Neurology at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and the author of The 21st Century Brain.
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.