Metamemory - Improving Memory - Exceptional Memory

Exceptional Memory

Mnemonists are people with exceptional memory. These individuals have seemingly effortless memories and perform tasks that may seem challenging to the general population. There is strong evidence suggesting that exceptional performance is acquired and that "ordinary" people can improve their memory drastically with the use of appropriate practice and strategies. Because metamemory is important for the selection and application of strategies, it is also important for the improvement of memory.

Brain-imaging conducted by Tanaka et al. reveals that subjects with exceptional performance activate some brain regions that are different from those activated by control participants. Some memory performance tasks in which people display exceptional memory are chess, medicine, auditing, computer programming, bridge, physics, sports, typing, juggling, dance, and music.

Ericsson et al. conducted a study with an undergraduate student "S.F." who had an initial digit span of 7 (within the normal range). This means that, on average, he was able to recall sequences of 7 random numbers after they were presented. Following more than 230 hours of practice, S.F. was able to increase his digit span to 79. S.F.'s use of mnemonics was essential. He used race times, ages, and dates to categorize the numbers, creating mnemonic associations.

Another example of a mnemonist is Hideaki Tomoyori, who memorized 40 000 digits of pi.