When I meet someone for the first time

[frogmarch]

and want to remember their name, or I hear a name or a word on TV I want to remember, I "write" the name or the word in the air with my pointer finger. To avoid making a production of it in front of other people, I can do it by barely moving my finger, or with an upside down (or pointing upward) finger held behind me. Later, if I can't recall the name or the word outright, I can close my eyes, position my finger, and let it do the remembering.

I've done this kind of invisible writing since I was around 10. I don't think it's tactile memory, because it doesn't involve touch. I remember the motion, the path my finger took.

Anyone else do this this? Please, someone, say yes.

[silverweb]

1. No, but I'm going to try it.

It sounds like a very good technique for remembering names and I've always been terrible with names. If taking notes enhances retention because you're using eye-hand coordination as well as listening to learn, why shouldn't your "invisible writing" achieve a similar goal? I wouldn't consider it weird or scary, just a unique memory method.

[frogmarch]

10. I hope it works for you too.

Remembering names outright has always been hard for me too, so finger writing comes in handy sometimes.

[wyn borkins]

2. Tactile Finger Writing Memory Skills (?)

No; however, I searched and found this (sort of related) article from 2019:

Writing In The Air: Facilitative Effects of Finger Writing

So there must be something interesting there...

[frogmarch]

9. Wow, I think that's it!

I don't recall ever hearing about kusho before, but as an Army brat, I lived with my family in Japan from the time I was 3 until I was 7. I wonder if I picked it up then. I remember a lot about my childhood, but I don't remember that, and anyway, I think I was 10 or so when I began finger writing. Still...

Thanks for the article.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Whatever works, works. No apologies if what works for you is different from anyone else's.

Each of us has different cognitive strengths -- some have strong numerical sense, some a strong sense of location, or shape, or sound -- exploit what you have. Don't feel bad, or even be surprised, if what works well for someone else doesn't work for you.

I have read a little about people with exceptional faculties for memory, innate or acquired by training, and the techniques they describe just wouldn't work for a lot of people. In fact, they often sound quite alien to common experience. That doesn't invalidate their methods, or suggest there's something wrong with other people, either. People are just -- different.

[frogmarch]

12. Now that you mention it,

I've heard of people who have unusual abilities such as you described. Next to some of them, I realize that finger writing is not a big deal. Whew.

[eppur_se_muova]

14. Something that occurred to me only later -- I often TYPE words in the air ...

I started doing this for keyboard practice, but occasionally I find myself doing it for no particular reason, except that the word is unfamiliar. Probably a similar thing.

[frogmarch]

20. I'd say it's very similar.

I'm thinking I may try air typing. Seriously.

[IcyPeas]

4. Interesting. Will give it a try too.

[frogmarch]

13. I hope it works for you

if you'd like it to.

[markie]

5. I'm jealous

I just continually say "Who are you again?"

[ret5hd]

8. My "trick" is...

(I have terrible “name” memory, excellent “face” memory)

…i just call everyone “brother”…”hey brother! How’s it going?…”

[frogmarch]

17. Whatever works! :)

[ret5hd]

27. Hey brother.

[frogmarch]

28. I'm a sister, but hey back. :)

[frogmarch]

15. :)

I must admit that sometimes I misspell a name or can't read my finger writing, and think a person's name is Fjbmv or something.

[frogmarch]

21. Nothing wrong with that.

I've never hesitated to do that when all else fails.

[Scrivener7]

6. Cool! I'm trying this!

[frogmarch]

16. Good luck!

Maybe think it over a little first.

[sl8]

7. That is really interesting.

The only thing I've personally noticed that might be related, is that copying or transcribing notes or other material seems to help me to remember more than just reading the material.

I searched for more information on using proprioception* as a memory aid, but didn't find very much.

This seems related:
https://www.unf.edu/publicrelations/media_relations/press/2015/UNF_Researchers_Reveal_Climbing_a_Tree_Can_Improve_Cognitive_Skills.aspx
UNF Researchers Reveal Climbing a Tree Can Improve Cognitive Skills

Thanks for posting.


*From Wikipedia:

Proprioception (/ˌproʊprioʊˈsɛpʃən, -priə-/[1][2] PROH-pree-o-SEP-shən), also referred to as kinaesthesia (or kinesthesia), is the sense of self-movement, force, and body position.[3][4] It is sometimes described as the "sixth sense".[5]

[frogmarch]

18. Yes, I think it's related.

I'd never thought much about being aware, even without realizing it, of my body position, but I can see how it might pertain to finger writing. Thanks for the link!

I am learning a lot here.

[tblue37]

26. There have been studies that show taking notes by hand rather than on a laptop aids in

both understanding & remembering the material. I always informed my college students of this, since most of them were accustomed to taking notes only on their laptops.

[lastlib]

11. Some years ago, a girl won the national spelling bee with this trick.

So it must work.

[frogmarch]

19. Wow, really?

That is so cool!

[lastlib]

23. She was from Olathe, Kansas....

Her name was Kavya Shivashankar, 2009 spelling bee champion. Her sister, Vanya Shivashankar, won it in 2015.

Interestingly, her father (his name eludes me) won an inter-company team spelling competition for a literacy charity in Kansas City in 2009. I was on the team that placed fifth in that competition.

[Ocelot II]

22. My mother told me I did that a lot when I was a little kid, still learning to read.

I don't remember it but maybe it helped; I was reading pretty well before I got to kindergarten. Maybe I'll take it up again, the name thing might work for me, too.

[frogmarch]

24. That's so neat you finger-wrote

when you were little.

You've given me an idea for an air-writing game my 6-year-old great-grandson and I can play while sitting next to each other: Guess the Air Word.

[tblue37]

25. Muscle memory.

[frogmarch]

33. I think you nailed it.

That describes it for me.

[LuckyCharms]

29. I don't do it, But I'm going to try it!

I sometimes go through absurd mental gymnastics in order to not forget someone's name.

Example: I get introduced to someone named "Michelle".

I'll shake Michelle's hand and say "My pleasure to meet you, Michelle".

Then my mind is off to the races.

Michelle
Shelly
Sea shell
Cape May, NJ
Picking up a shell on the beach at Cape May NJ
Cape May
Beach
Shell
Shelly
Michelle

The more convoluted I make it, the easier I remember it for some reason.

So if I meet her again, I'll think "Cape May NJ", go through that whole process in my head, and remember "Michelle".

I think I actually read about this technique somewhere, adopted it, and it seems to work for me.

[frogmarch]

30. Hey, I'm going to try it!

Maybe I can get my mind to do that too.

[NNadir]

31. That beats my approach. When I meet someone new...

...I pull out a tattoo needle and try to tattoo their name on their forehead.

Often they resist.

[frogmarch]

32. haha!

They do? I wonder why.

[Emile]

34. I was learning State Capitals and to this day hairy peter is

Harrisburg, Pa. Don't laugh it worked.

[frogmarch]

35. I love it!

But sorry, I can't help laughing!

[mitch96]

36. I'm bad with names also. For me repetition is reinforcement. I will repeat the name during

the conversation a few times and then associate the name with something about the person.
I have a real crap memory. I'm amazed I made it thru school..
So I meet a guy named Fred.
Hello Fred nice to meet you. So tell me, Fred what do you do for a living?
Fred, that's so cool! have you been doing that for a long time?
Living up north must suck in the winter, eh Fred?
I just try to keep sticking the name in the conversation as many times as I can.
Then if "Fred" has something "Red" that would be a bonus.. Like a ruddy complexion.
Works for me but ONLY if I remember to do it.
m

[frogmarch]

37. I hadn't thought of doing that.

Associating the name with something about them is a good idea! I wonder if I am clever enough to do that. Nah, probably not, but still a good idea for a lot of other people.