Our short-term memory is on average only capable of storing seven items of information and chunking can help us use this storage space more effectively. Glass and Holyoak (1986) 3 found that by gathering and highlighting key branches within a boundary, such as a highlight cloud, you’re using a memory technique known as ‘chunking’.Research by Toi (2009) 2 shows that mind mapping can help children recall words more effectively than using lists, with improvements in memory of up to 32%.They reported that “mind maps provide an effective study technique when applied to written material” and that they are likely to “encourage a deeper level of processing” for better memory formation. A study by Farrand, Hussain, and Hennessey (2002) 1 found that mind mapping improved the long-term memory of factual information in medical students by 10%.Ayoa’s mind mapping tool is faithful to these beneficial features, giving you the option to create quick box-style or highly creative maps with adjustable curvilinear branches, as well as add images and emojis, and change the color of your branches and text.ĭon’t just take our word for it – countless studies prove that this creative thinking technique is a highly effective tool for improving memory. Mind maps involve a unique combination of imagery, color and visual-spatial arrangement which is proven to significantly improve recall when compared to conventional methods of note-taking and learning by rote. This is why mind maps are beneficial for countless tasks.īelow, we will critically discuss how you can use mind maps to aid in various processes, such as memorizing information, conducting presentations and solving problems. Research shows that the brain likes to work on the basis of association, and it will connect every idea, memory or piece of information to tens, hundreds and even thousands of other ideas and concepts. They make it easier to extract your ideas from your head into something visible and structured. It literally ‘maps’ out your thoughts, using associations, connections, and triggers to stimulate further ideas. In a mind map, information is structured in a way that mirrors exactly how the brain functions – in a radiant rather than linear manner. This gives mind maps a natural organizational structure. Starting with a central idea or topic in the middle of the map, branches radiate from the center containing further themes and concepts to be explored – typically in the form of words, short phrases, and images. In its simplest form, a mind map is a collection of ideas that have been put into the format of a visual diagram. “So, what is mind mapping and how does it work exactly? Can’t I just stick to my lists and my conventional tried and tested techniques?” you ask? With many people being visual thinkers, mind maps can bring them countless benefits that you won’t get from a simple list. Mind maps have remained popular to this very day (with Al Gore and Bill Gates being fans of the technique), and this is due to the fact that they are proven to boost our productivity, creativity and memory. One of the earliest documented examples of mind mapping can be traced back to philosopher Porphyry of Tyros in the 3rd century BCE, who used it to organize the works of the great thinker, Aristotle. Whether you called it a ‘brainstorm’ or a ‘spider diagram’, chances are you’ve used mind maps throughout your education and working life to brainstorm ideas for a presentation, structure an essay or report, plan a meeting, or even revise for an important exam. Mind mapping is an effective creative thinking tool loved by over 250 million people around the world – and it’s something that most of us are familiar with (whether we initially realize it or not). JanuWhy mind mapping works: the benefits of mind mappingīy Louise Cunnah posted in Lifestyle, Neurodiversity.
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