Memory Techniques: Mnemonics and Memory Palaces

Simple, proven memory tricks anyone can use—from acronyms and chunking to the "memory palace" used by memory champions—with step-by-step examples and an honest look at what they can and can't do.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Some people can memorize a shuffled deck of cards in under a minute. They aren't born with special brains. They use mnemonics—memory techniques that turn hard-to-remember information into something vivid, organized and easy to recall. The good news is that anyone can learn the basics.

Why mnemonics work

Our brains are naturally good at remembering pictures, places, stories and emotions, and not so good at remembering abstract lists, numbers or random facts. Mnemonics work by translating dull information into a form the brain handles well, and by giving you a cue to find it later. See How Memory Works: An Overview.

Techniques to try

1. Acronyms and acrostics

Take the first letter of each item and make a word or sentence.

HOMES for the Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior
"Every Good Boy Does Fine" for the musical notes E, G, B, D, F

Try it: for a grocery list of Bread, Apples, Milk and Eggs, remember "BAME"—or a sentence like "Bob Ate My Eggs."

2. Chunking

Break long strings into smaller groups. A phone number is easier as 216-555-0142 than as 2165550142. Working memory holds only a few items at once, so chunks help (see Working Memory).

3. Vivid imagery

Turn what you want to remember into a strange, colorful, exaggerated picture. The weirder, the better. To remember to buy batteries and stamps, picture a giant battery licking a postage stamp.

4. Linking or story method

Connect items in a list into a little story. For "keys, pills, umbrella, letter": You unlock the door with your keys, and a flood of pills pours out, so you open your umbrella, which is covered in letters.

5. Rhymes and songs

"Thirty days hath September…" has helped people for centuries. Melody and rhythm make words stick—one reason people with dementia often remember song lyrics long after other memories fade.

6. The memory palace (method of loci)

This is the technique memory champions rely on, and it dates back to ancient Greece.

How to do it:

Pick a place you know well—your home, for example.
Choose a route through it with specific stops: front door, coat closet, couch, kitchen table, fridge.
Place a vivid image of each item you want to remember at each stop. For a list of errands—pharmacy, bank, post office—picture a giant pill bottle blocking the front door, dollar bills spilling out of the coat closet, and mail carriers bouncing on the couch.
To recall, walk through the route in your mind and "see" what's at each stop.

With practice, you can reuse the same route for different lists.

What the science says

Two well-known studies explored the memory palace:

In a 2017 study in Neuron, researchers compared top-ranked memory athletes with ordinary people. The athletes' brains looked anatomically ordinary; what differed was how brain networks worked together. When untrained volunteers practiced the memory palace method for about six weeks, their memory for word lists improved dramatically, and their brain connectivity shifted toward the athletes' pattern.
A 2021 follow-up in Science Advances found that mnemonic training produced longer-lasting memories—benefits were still measurable four months later—and that trained brains used memory areas more efficiently.

Harvard Health and Mayo Clinic also recommend everyday strategies like organizing information, making associations and repeating what you learn. See How to Improve Your Memory.

Everyday uses

Names: link the name to a feature or image—"Rose" with a rose behind her ear (see Remembering Names).
Parking spots: say it out loud and make an image: "Level 3, row C—three cats sitting on my hood."
Speeches or toasts: place each main point at a stop in your memory palace.
PINs and passwords: turn digits into a story or date you know.
Studying: combine mnemonics with Spaced Repetition for long-term learning.

Be realistic

Mnemonics take practice. They feel awkward at first and get easier.
They work best for specific information—lists, names, facts. They don't improve memory in general.
They don't prevent dementia. But learning new skills is good mental exercise (see Neuroplasticity and Learning New Skills at Any Age).
For people with memory loss, simpler, external tools often help more: calendars, notes, alarms, labels and pill organizers (see Memory Aids and Tools). People with mild memory problems may still benefit from easy techniques like chunking and making associations, especially with a family member's help.

When to see a doctor

Everyone forgets things. But if memory problems are new, getting worse, or affecting daily life—like getting lost in familiar places or repeating questions often—talk with a doctor. Some causes are treatable. See Everyday Forgetfulness: When to Worry and Normal Aging vs. Memory Problems.

Sources

Not medical advice. This article is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual. Talk with a doctor about your situation.

Ask a question

Have a question about memory, Alzheimer's, or caregiving? Email us at:

[email protected]

Open in my email app · Write in Gmail (opens in a new tab)

We may answer common questions in future updates (we won't share your name). We can't give personal medical advice; for urgent help call the Alzheimer's Association Helpline at 800-272-3900.

Memory Digest