A study published in Scientific Reports compared active navigation using AR to passive observation in VR, finding that participants who physically walked through space showed enhanced memory formation. The researchers also note that the structure of the physical environment influences how memories are organized. The findings could have implications for interventions in neurodegenerative diseases.

Hey everyone,

I’ve been experimenting with the Method of Loci (Memory Palace) for general trivia and language learning with great results, but I'm trying to figure out how to scale it effectively for software engineering and technical interview prep.

While building projects and doing spaced repetition (Anki) helps with muscle memory, I often find myself wanting an indexed mental map for high-level retrieval under pressure especially during live interviews or architectural discussions.

I’m looking to encode things like:

• Core Principles & Architecture: SOLID, ACID, CAP theorem, clean code principles, design patterns (Factory, Observer, Singleton).
• DSA Patterns & Approaches: Recognizing archetypes quickly (Sliding Window, Monotonic Stack, Two Pointers, Top K elements, DP state transitions).
• Framework & Language Nuances: Execution models, lifecycle hooks, async/event loop mechanics, language specific quirks.
• Databases & Systems: SQL query execution order, indexing trade-offs, isolation levels.

A few specific questions for those who’ve tried this:

1. Handling Abstraction: How do you translate highly abstract or non-visual concepts (like recursion trees, concurrency locks, or distributed consensus) into physical spatial anchors without the imagery getting too cluttered?
2. Hierarchy & Nesting: How do you organize palaces for topics with multiple sub-layers (e.g., Database -> RDBMS -> PostgreSQL -> Specific indexing mechanisms)? Do you use nested rooms, dedicated buildings, or distinct routes?
3. Retrieval Speed in Interviews: Is the mental walk fast enough when you need to recall a pattern in the middle of live coding, or does it mainly serve as an initial filing cabinet before procedural memory takes over?

If you have specific palace setups, rules of thumb, or pitfalls to avoid when applying mnemonics to technical domains, I’d love to hear how you approached it!

Hi, I've recently noticed that I struggle to remember the stuff that I read. I was wondering if you guys have any suggestions on books that include techniques on this matter.

I don't know if there is something specific or I should just read a book (or two) on memory tricks in general!

Thanks a lot!

When crating a memory palace do you remember the places the first time you go through them or do you have to go through them twice or three times?

I am very comfortable with my songwriting, have played several open mics, a single hour set, and released an album, but have not yet played in front of an audience without a lyric sheet. I am very bad at memorizing things. Does anyone have a method of remembering songs? I’m particularly interested in anyone who does not have a great memory.

I want a method to learn the content for life because I will need to know this stuff to treat patients. Also, in my country, residency admission is based on a major exam that covers everything from medical school. However, I’m a bit lost since I’ve realized that my study techniques aren’t very effective. Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hey everyone! Happy to hear what you think about this blog post. I know many of us face the same challenge:

The thought arrives in the shower, in the car, halfway through an argument. By the time you could write it down it has gone, and you are left with the shape of it and none of the content.

The particular cruelty is that you can still remember it was good. You know roughly what it was about. You know it connected two things you had never put together before. What you cannot do is reconstruct it, and the harder you chase it the further away it gets.

Most advice about this is about remembering harder. That advice is aimed at the wrong problem, which is why so little of it works.

https://preview.redd.it/e71mk6ev52kh1.png?width=1830&format=png&auto=webp&s=281768aa8f3675160d21dd057bdb8a99edeaa6b9

Full article here

I’ve been thinking a lot about how skill retention works. When you learn to ride a bike, it locks into your procedural memory. Even if you don't touch a bicycle for 10 years, you can hop back on and do it almost effortlessly. However, with most complex skills like a new language, programming, or technical theory, taking a long break usually means dealing with heavy memory decay and practically having to relearn things from scratch. If someone know a book to how to build a skill that stick in your brain (persoanl experience would also be nice but not necessary ofc) I would be happy.

Idk how many of y'all do this. But I do this a lot when I forget a certain word or when I'm struggling to remember some word. So basically i just start reciting the alphabets and try and remember if the word started with that letter. I start with A and then I think for some time. And when I don't get the word with A, then I go B, then C, and until Z. Idk man it works 4 me most times. Do y'all do that or am I just insane.

For eg: i was tryna remember the word "clostridium butylicum" and i cud only remember butylicum, so i started reciting from A and then I searched 4 the word in my head, and then i reached C, thought 4 a while and I actually got it.

i have trouble recalling interactions and memories, especially from my childhood (middle school and some of high school as well). whenever someone asks me if i remember something i either don’t remember at all or it’s very hard for me to remember the details or actual events, sometimes i remember it happened but not what happened. other times i can see a faint image of a memory but that’s it. i also find myself not fully being present, like my mind is somewhere else, in my day to day whereabouts. it’s like i’m on autopilot mode - working normally but inside i’m taking the backseat. I don’t take any medications or have had any major injuries/health problems and i am a biology student who works in healthcare so it’s not like i have trouble retaining information, i am also not stressed or have had any traumatic experiences during childhood.

I spend hours reading non-fiction, taking notes, and highlighting paperbacks, but a couple of weeks later I barely remember any of it. My highlights just sit in my phone or camera roll going to waste.
I know active recall and spaced repetition are supposed to solve the "forgetting curve," but making Anki cards manually after every chapter takes forever.

For those of you who actually retain what you read:
\* How do you set up a daily recall habit that doesn't feel like extra homework?
\* Any workflows or apps that seamlessly turn physical book notes into quick daily reviews?

Would love to hear how you guys handle this.

Just to preface this - I do not have an ADHD diagnosis or any mental diagnosis other than moderate anxiety.

I have always been a very forgetful person, but as I'm getting into my older teenage years, it's starting to interfere with my life. My general memory isn't bad - I remember what I did every day last week, and I'm literally learning a language right now where memorising vocabulary isn't an issue.

But my terrible short-term memory is becoming too abysmal to ignore.

For example, I just got into an argument with my dad about planning for an appointment I have today. He's been telling me all day to ring my stepmother about taking me to it. I'd say "YES, I WILL DO IT." I walk upstairs. The thought about ringing her doesn't even cross my mind, because then I'll sit down and start doing something else. He'd walk into my room: "HAVE YOU RANG HER? RING HER." I say in response, "I FORGOT, BUT I'LL DO IT RIGHT NOW." He leaves the room, I have absolutely no thoughts in my mind about that appointment, and the cycle continues. Now I have nobody to take me there.

This sort of thing happens a lot. I'm just wondering if this level of forgetfulness is something I need to get checked out, or if it's just part of who I am.

I always tell my dad, "I'm sorry I forget things; I have a lot on my mind." But the truth is, I really don't. It's just that when I move into a new room or any tiny thought enters my mind, what I was told to do 5 seconds ago evaporates from my memory.

It's always simple things like "LOCK THE DOOR AFTER YOU COME IN." And I don't because now I'm in the house thinking about what food is in the fridge.

I have a very big and important exam coming up. I realized that i wasted my time with taking notes etc and i don‘t remember anything for that. It‘s Anatomy and the exam will be in two weeks. Help lmfao

Like I try many time to memorise the book language, but as we all know, the bookish language is difficult, and I want to memorise word by word so anyone have any memory trick that can easily memorise my bookish language???

I have problem since the very beginning of this year, I've not been able to memorize any chapter of any course. Use to be very good when it comes to memorized, but now i am completed dumb. It’s even worse during exams (I had completely failed the last one) I don't understand what's happening. Please guys I need advices to overcome this 🙏