After reading Frederic Jameson’s discussion about the “aesthetic of cognitive mapping” in “Postmodernism or, the Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism,” I have been prompted to research the relationship between memory and space which, in a sense, has made me re-visit the historical use of mnemonics—which were the topics of my early posts on this blog when I discussed Frances Yates' The Art of Memory.
In addition, to researching cognitive maps, I found the following list of benefits of mnemonic mind maps featured in Tony and Barry Bazan’s The Mind Map Book.
"The benefits of mnemonic mind maps:
2. They activate the brain on all levels, making it more alert and skillful at remembering.
3. Their attractiveness makes the brain want to return to them, and again encourages the probability of spontaneous recall.
4. They are intrinsically designed to aid memory.
5. The use of the memory Mind Maps activates the brain to become mnemonically alert and thus with each usage increases the base memory skill level.
6. They reflect the creative thinking process, thereby simultaneously enhancing creative thinking skills.
7. They maintain a high level of recall through a learning or listening period.
8. They utilize all the individuals associative capabilities, enhancing the brain’s physical imprinting and network-making capabilities, and therefore increasing the probability of recall.
9. They provide a “sure fire” method of remembering, thus increasing the individual’s confidence, motivation and general mental functioning." (150, 152)
The strategic use of words is quite scientific here: “utilize,” “cortical,” “skills,” “enhancing,” “recall,” “skillful,” “alert,” “level,” “associative,” “imprinting,” and “functioning”.
"The benefits of mnemonic mind maps:
1. They utilize all the cortical skills, thereby enormously enhancing the probability of recall.
2. They activate the brain on all levels, making it more alert and skillful at remembering.
3. Their attractiveness makes the brain want to return to them, and again encourages the probability of spontaneous recall.
4. They are intrinsically designed to aid memory.
5. The use of the memory Mind Maps activates the brain to become mnemonically alert and thus with each usage increases the base memory skill level.
6. They reflect the creative thinking process, thereby simultaneously enhancing creative thinking skills.
7. They maintain a high level of recall through a learning or listening period.
8. They utilize all the individuals associative capabilities, enhancing the brain’s physical imprinting and network-making capabilities, and therefore increasing the probability of recall.
9. They provide a “sure fire” method of remembering, thus increasing the individual’s confidence, motivation and general mental functioning." (150, 152)
The strategic use of words is quite scientific here: “utilize,” “cortical,” “skills,” “enhancing,” “recall,” “skillful,” “alert,” “level,” “associative,” “imprinting,” and “functioning”.
What appeals to me here is the emphasis on the relationship between mind maps and creativity. I find it quite intellectual useful to think about the relationship between memory and creativity, which then makes me puzzle over the role of imagination within the context of remembering. Does imagination complicate memory by decentering its supposed “stability” or “objectivity” by what is imagined in the act of remembering? Also, I’ve been thinking about how memory interacts with creativity within the context of space in creating mind maps. All of these ideas and questions take me back to an examination of mnemonics.
Do mind maps help you remember?
Mind maps featured here are featured in Tony and Barry Bazan's The Mind Map Book (Penguin Books, 1994)
