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- ^Introduction - The Link System\
-
- In Tutorial 1 you were introduced to the concept of consciously associating
- items together in your mind. In doing this, you were applying a small part
- of the ^'Link'\ or^ 'Chain'\ Memory System. You were forming the links of a
- memory chain, by systematically linking one item to another. If you make
- the associations strong enough in your mind, then one item in the chain
- |must\ lead you on to the next item.
-
- Once the Link system has been applied to a list, you can retain that list
- for as long as you wish. Of course, there's no reason why you should retain
- the list of items you Linked during Tutorial 1 - they were just everyday
- items with no logical connection.
-
- But when you begin to apply the Link System for practical reasons, you will
- be memorising lists because you intend to make use of those lists. The
- practical use will provide the motivation to remember it in the first place.
-
- The Link System can be used to memorise any information which has to be
- learned in sequence. Speeches, presentations, stories, jokes, recipes, and
- formulas are all examples of things which must be learned in sequence.#
-
- The most common problem experienced by people trying to learn the Link
- System is how to make their mental pictures sufficiently |ludicrous\ to make
- strong associations. It does take a certain amount of imagination to form
- ridiculous pictures in your mind. Children have no trouble in forming silly
- or ludicrous pictures - they do it %naturally\.
-
- Unfortunately, as we grow up, most of us tend to use our imagination less
- and less, and so it becomes a little rusty. However, that capacity for
- imagination we had when we were children is still there - it just needs a
- little oiling. Applying the Memory Master systems will automatically
- provide the exercise that your imagination needs.
-
- So don't worry if at first you have to apply some effort to create those
- ludicrous mental pictures. After a bit of practice, you'll find that you
- can do it quickly and easily.#
-
- There are five basic principles you can apply in forming your mental
- pictures which will help to make your associations strong and long lasting -
-
- (1) < OUT OF PROPORTION\ - In all your images, try to distort size and
- shape. In Tutorial 1, you were told to picture a <'Huge'\ sausage or a
- <'Gigantic'\ tie. Conversely, you can make things microscopically small.
-
- (2) >SUBSTITUTION\ - Tutorial 1 suggested that you visualise footballers
- kicking a television around a football pitch >instead\ of a football, or
- pens growing on a tree instead of leaves. Substituting an out of place item
- in an image increases the probability of recall.
-
- (3) $EXAGGERATION\ - Try to picture vast quantities in your images. For
- example, Tutorial 1 used the word $'billions'\ (of bananas).
-
- (4) %MOVEMENT\ - Any movement or action is always easy to remember. For
- example, Tutorial 1 suggested that you see yourself cutting into a sausage
- and gallons of ink %squirting out\ and hitting you in the face.
-
- (5) ^HUMOUR\ - The funnier, more absurd and zany you can make your images,
- the more memorable they will be.#
-
- Applying any combination of these five principles when forming your images
- will help make your mental associations truly outstanding and memorable.
-
- At first you may find that you need to consciously apply one or more of the
- five principles in order to make your pictures sufficiently ludicrous.
- After a little practice however, you should find that applying the
- principles becomes an >automatic\ and natural process.
-
- ^Press Page Down to proceed to Tutorial 2~