Recent Research on Visual Mnemonics: Historical Roots and Educational Fruits

Abstract

A few empirical studies of mnemonics were conducted in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Then, very little research was done until the 1960’s, when a revived research interest in mnemonics accompanied the return of cognitive processes as a legitimate area of research. Virtually all of the experimental research on mnemonics has been conducted since 1965, and most of that since 1970. Research on visual-imagery mnemonic techniques in the 1970’s is compared with research in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, showing that the roots of much “recent” research can be traced back at least a century. Finally, some of the fruits yielded by recent research on mnemonics, in terms of practical implications for education, are described.