22/08/2026
In this FILE, Kenichi Yoshinaga—a University of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine (Rikyu III) graduate and memory expert—explains the brain's mechanism for retaining information through the "7 Laws of Memory." He introduces concrete techniques to move beyond simple rote memorization and efficiently turn knowledge into long-term retention.
The 7 Laws to Strengthen Memory
Law of Selection: The brain does not memorize everything; it selectively retains what is necessary. Getting your brain to recognize information as "important" is the first step.
Law of Importance: The key to memory retention is convincing your brain that "this is crucial information for future use," rather than just re-reading it. As shown in Eric Kandel's research, repeated stimuli physically alter neural pathways.
Law of Recall: Instead of passively reading materials, closing them and taking time to "recall" strengthens memory. Training yourself to retrieve information from your mind without looking at the answers is vital.
Law of Emotion: Information linked to emotions—such as surprise or curiosity—is much easier to remember. Learning with genuine interest flips the brain's engagement switch.
Law of Association: Connecting new knowledge to what you already know or to real-life situations makes retrieving those memories much easier.
Law of Output: "Outputting" what you have learned—by explaining it to others or solving problems—helps you accurately assess your understanding and makes knowledge actionable.
Law of Continuity: Reviewing material just before you completely forget it—when it still takes a little effort to recall—builds strong, long-lasting memories over time.
