The Law of Association
The first requirement of memory is to make a strong impression upon the brain, and this we have seen is accomplished by visualization. We concentrate the strongest of our senses upon the thing we wish to remember and thus make the strongest impression.
The second necessary step is the ability to recall the impression at will. This is equally important in memory and is made possible by the Law of Association. Prof. Kay states that, "Association is the means by which what is in the memory is recalled and brought again before consciousness."
Things which are impressed upon the mind, or which are active in the mind at the same time, will return together, one will suggest or recall the other. A voice, a sound, a sight will often recall a long train of events. One event will recall another that took place at the same time, or in the same place, or one similar in detail. These associations are easily formed though you may be unconscious of the fact at the time. When one of the associated facts is in your mind it becomes the means by which the other is brought again into your consciousness.
The visual picture is the strongest impression that can be made upon the brain, but to be able to recall a new impression at will, it should be linked or associated with some already familiar picture which is easily recalled, and this will bring the associated impression with it.
In the visual exercise in which a list of words was learned, beginning with House, this principle was used. The strong impression was made upon the brain by seeing the House. You also made a strong impression of the Clock, by seeing it, but in order to remember that the word Clock follows the word House the two were associated together by seeing them in the same picture. This is an example of two things impressed upon the mind at the same time. When you see the House it brings the Clock into mind. If you wish to recall what word follows House see the House, and the picture association will supply the second object.
The use of this Law of Association made it possible for you to recall the list of objects. To be easily available the objects must be linked together as strongly as possible, and this is accomplished by the associated picture.
Association is one of the fundamental laws of mental activity, the use of which is absolutely essential to memory operation. In the pages following you will notice the application of this same principle, always using the visual method because of its unusual strength and accuracy.
Much has been written on the subject and some memory courses dwell on it at great length. There are just two essentials to be always kept in mind:
First, to be able to recall the new fact at will it must be impressed upon the mind in association with some familiar knowledge that will be easily recalled.
Second, the visual picture is the strongest association, therefore the most lasting and easily remembered and at the same time it can be used for all needs.
This law of association must be used continuously, without it there can be no accumulation of knowledge or memory. Its operation is simple and need not be in the least confusing.