In 2017, Martin Dresler and colleagues published a study in the journal Neuron. They compared 23 memory athletes with ordinary people, then trained 51 adults with no memory training before.
| Group | What they did for 40 days | Words recalled (of 72) |
|---|---|---|
| Method-of-loci training | 30 minutes a day of memory palace practice | about 26 before; about 62 after |
| Short-term memory training | a game like Concentration | gained about 11 |
| No training | nothing | gained about 7 |
Four months later, with no more training, the loci group still recalled over 22 words more than at the start. Brain scans showed their connections shifting toward the pattern seen in the memory athletes.
Key idea
Training the method of loci produced large, lasting gains in remembering lists. It is a trained skill, open to ordinary people.
Common mistake
Overstating it. The study measured word-list recall, not school grades or general intelligence. The skill helps most with what you practice it on.
Worked example: Worked example
Before training, the loci group recalled about 26 words; after, about 62. How many more?
- 62 − 26 = 36.
Answer: About 36 more words (the paper reports about 35).