Page 28 - Mind Games The Aging Brain and How to Keep it Healthy

The Learning Styles of an Agile Mind • 13

one for which you counted the highest score. The other two
styles probably did not have a score of zero. So, there are
some situations where you prefer to use the other two styles.
One of the authors typically tests as visual (when forced
to select just one choice) but knows in her gut that she is
strongly kinesthetic as well. She has to write things down to
learn them, and if she does not do the driving cannot return
to a location. Most people, in fact, rely on these three tech-
niques to different degrees at different times. For example,
to remember an errand that must be run, you may repeat it
to yourself several times, while a trip to the hardware store
for supplies may prompt you to write a list. You can train
yourself to rely extensively on more than one modality to
process information and create memories. The more you
combine these modalities, the more efficient you will be at
storing and recalling information.

USING LEARNING STYLES
To use your brain more fully, you need to use combinations
of these methods to learn and recall pertinent information.
Using a combination of visual and auditory methods creates
more connections in the brain than using just one method.
The more connections you use to store information, the
more likely you will be able to recall it when required.
A friend of ours repeats to herself the thing she is trying
to remember to do in an interesting rhyme or pattern (audi-
tory), writes it down on a piece of paper and puts it next to
her place mat where she will see it (visual and kinesthetic),
and then tells her husband to remind her (auditory). The in-
teresting thing is that she knows her husband will never re-
mind her (he won’t remember later), and he knows she
doesn’t really expect him to remind her (so he doesn’t bother
storing it). She never forgets anything! Are you surprised?
Why is it important in everyday life to be aware of learn-
ing preferences? We often think of learning as taking place
in a formal environment such as a classroom or work. Nev-
ertheless, we learn new information every day. Sometimes