Shortcuts for Your Brain

Mnemonic devices turn hard material into memorable patterns. "Every Good Boy Does Fine" and ROY G. BIV work because they compress abstract data into forms the brain handles easily.

The best mnemonics are ones you create yourself. Personal associations often stick better than borrowed ones because the act of creation forces deep processing. If you need to remember that potassium's symbol is K, link it to a vivid K-shaped image or personal memory.