Hippocampus and method of loci Domina Petric, MD

Hippocampus Small organ located within the brain's medial temporal lobe and forms an important part of the limbic system. Limbic system regulates emotions. The hippocampus is associated mainly with memory, in particular long-term memory. It also plays an important role in spatial navigation.

Hippocampus Wikipedia.org

Memory The hippocampus plays a role in the formation of new memories and in the detection of new surroundings, occurrences and stimuli.  Alzheimer’s disease affects the hippocampus first and severely, before other parts of the cortex (the frontal lobes later). Memory is usually the first affected in Alzheimer’s disease: the ability to make new memories.

Mental illnesses In schizophrenia and some severe depressions, the hippocampus appears to shrink. There is recent evidence that this shrinkage can be reversed and perhaps prevented with effective treatment in patients with depression and bipolar disorder.

Hippocampus and estrogen The hippocampus is known to be directly affected by estrogen.  There is research on the role of estrogen in preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Estrogen increases synaptic density in the hippocampus especially. Synaptic density is the number of connections to other nerve cells.

Spatial navigation and spatial memory The hippocampus plays a role in learning and storing informations referring to portions of space: cognitive maps.

Behavioral inhibition The damage of the hippocampus causes hyperactivity and affects the ability to inhibit responses that have previously been learnt.

Method of loci The method of loci is also known as the memory palace technique or the journey method. The method of loci was invented more than 2000 years ago. It was widely used by the Greeks and later the Romans to memorize and give speeches that could last for hours.  The Romans mentally placed the key points of their speech in locations along a familiar route through their city or palace. To remember a key point, they represented it by a concrete item, and visualized that item somehow interacting with a particular location. 

Method of loci Each location serves as a hook, to which you visually connect whatever you want to remember. You accomplish this by creating an image or scene in mind, in which the location and the memorized item interact. 

Example of journey chair computer telephone balcony wardrobe Associated tasks or items: The room that is visualised: I have to study the lesson for my exam (I visualise myself sitting in the chair and studying). I have to mail my friend about my new seminar. I have to call my other friend. I have to go to my training. I have to buy myself a new sweater and I will do it at the evening. chair computer telephone balcony wardrobe

Conclusion Hippocampus is probably very important in creating your mental juorney (method of loci). Hippocampus plays important role in creating new memories. In the method of loci very important is ability to create a mind map (mental journey is a type of mind map).

Mind map A mind map is a highly effective way of getting information in and out of your brain. It is a creative and logical means of note-taking and note-making that maps out the ideas. Mind mapping converts a long list of monotonous information into a colorful, memorable and highly organized diagram that works in line with the brain's natural way of doing things.

Five essential characteristics of mind mapping: The main idea, subject or focus is crystallized in a central image. The main themes radiate from the central image as branches. The branches comprise a key image or key word drawn or printed on its associated line. Topics of lesser importance are represented as twigs of the relevant branch. The branches form a connected nodal structure. http://www.mindmapping.com/theory-behind-mind-maps.php

Brain hemispheres Dr. Roger Sperry (Nobel Prize) confirmed that the evolutionarily latest part of the brain, cerebral cortex, is divided into two major hemispheres. Those hemispheres performe a comprehensive range of intellectual tasks, called cortical skills.

Cortical skills are: logic rhythm lines color lists daydreaming numbers imagination word gestalt (seeing the whole picture)

Brain integration Sperry's own research confirmed that the more these activities were integrated, the more the brain's performance became co-operative, with each intellectual skill enhancing the performance of other intellectual areas. 

Conclusion In the method of loci hippocampus together with brain hemispheres creates a mental journey (mind map) to boost the memory and also creative thinking.

Literature http://www.news-medical.net/health/Hippocampus- Functions.aspx (By Dr Ananya Mandal, MD) http://psycheducation.org/brain-tours/memory- learning-and-emotion-the-hippocampus Wikipedia.org http://remembereverything.org/memory-palace-the- method-of-loci http://www.mindmapping.com/theory-behind-mind- maps.php