How Can the Use of Mental Images, Concepts and Schemas to Organise Our Thinking Help Us to Improve Our Memory?
How can the use of mental images, concepts and schemas to organise our thinking help us to improve our memory?
In this assignment I have been asked to discuss the purpose of using mental images, concepts and schemas. I will explain why these aspects are an important tool in improving our memory techniques and organising our thoughts.
There are many ways the human brain can organise and store our thoughts and memories.
I have discovered two ways of thinking and thought organisation. These are known in psychology as Semantic & Iconic thought. Semantic thought is known as thinking in words whilst Iconic thought is thinking in mental images.
When we are learning, images are memorised as a visual cue to help recall a specific word or phrase. By previously memorising these images, the effort in forming the memory is more likely to be remembered. This has proven to be a successful way of learning a new language.
In the starting with psychology text book Spoors et all (2011) shows an example of learning a new French word by making a picture of a bin in the shape of a bell that has an unpleasant smell. This image would encourage the learner to remember the translation of “Poubelle” from forming the image in their mind.
Raugh and Atkinson (1975) also experimented with the key word technique (combining words with a visualisation) when teaching Spanish in two separate groups.
One group of participants were taught just by learning the direct translations, the other using the mental image technique and key words.
The group who had studied both the images & key words scored higher when tested than those who had just been given the key words. This proves the theory of images help us to remember better.
Another way of learning with mental images is also known as a Mnemonic or memory strategy.
“A mnemonic, or mnemonic device, is any learning technique that aids information retention. Mnemonics aim to translate information into a form that the human brain can
In this assignment I have been asked to discuss the purpose of using mental images, concepts and schemas. I will explain why these aspects are an important tool in improving our memory techniques and organising our thoughts.
There are many ways the human brain can organise and store our thoughts and memories.
I have discovered two ways of thinking and thought organisation. These are known in psychology as Semantic & Iconic thought. Semantic thought is known as thinking in words whilst Iconic thought is thinking in mental images.
When we are learning, images are memorised as a visual cue to help recall a specific word or phrase. By previously memorising these images, the effort in forming the memory is more likely to be remembered. This has proven to be a successful way of learning a new language.
In the starting with psychology text book Spoors et all (2011) shows an example of learning a new French word by making a picture of a bin in the shape of a bell that has an unpleasant smell. This image would encourage the learner to remember the translation of “Poubelle” from forming the image in their mind.
Raugh and Atkinson (1975) also experimented with the key word technique (combining words with a visualisation) when teaching Spanish in two separate groups.
One group of participants were taught just by learning the direct translations, the other using the mental image technique and key words.
The group who had studied both the images & key words scored higher when tested than those who had just been given the key words. This proves the theory of images help us to remember better.
Another way of learning with mental images is also known as a Mnemonic or memory strategy.
“A mnemonic, or mnemonic device, is any learning technique that aids information retention. Mnemonics aim to translate information into a form that the human brain can
Cited: from Wikipedia, “A schema (plural schemata or schemas), in psychology and cognitive science, describes an organized pattern of thought or behavior. It can also be described as a mental structure of pre-conceived ideas, a framework representing some aspect of the world, or a system of organizing and perceiving new information” We use a schema to grade things about what we associate with a particular situation or person. Schemas affect what we notice and how we understand things in our own perspective. Everybody’s schema will be different, even if it relates to the same topic of interest. We tend to share our schemas or experience with other people who have the similar interests such as football or shopping. However schemas can build expectations, whether biased or not regarding a situation or person. We tend to then ignore any information we are not comfortable with or doesn’t fit into our schema even if it is correct or has been argued correctly. In the starting with psychology textbook, Bransford & Johnson (1972) trialled an experiment about a schema entitled washing clothes. A group of people were given the paragraph to remember but the title was omitted. They then asked the group to figure out what the schema was. The group reported that they struggled to remember the procedure correctly, and were unable to recognise what the passage was about. They were then given the title and asked to then re-read the passage, and then the schema fell into place and the group then both understood and remembered most of the passage from memory. Our personal memories allow us to learn from our experiences and define who we are as an individual. The brain is a highly complex organ, whose function is both important and vital in our everyday lives. Mental images have been a proven successful technique in helping us to continue to recall information. Our current schemas keep evolving and adapting through experience and knowledge. Concepts continue to organise and expand our thoughts into ordered groups.