Practical examples of association techniques for memory that actually work

Real-world examples of association techniques for memory in everyday studying

Let’s start with what you actually care about: examples of association techniques for memory that you can steal and use today. No jargon, just practical tricks.

Imagine you’re studying biology and need to remember that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. Instead of repeating the sentence ten times, you picture a tiny power plant inside a cartoon cell, puffing smoke and running on a treadmill. Now “mitochondria” isn’t just a word; it’s a mental image connected to “powerhouse.” That’s an association.

Here are some best examples of how people use association while studying:

• A nursing student links drug names to vivid images. For example, “furosemide” sounds like “fur” + “ocean side,” so she imagines a dog with thick fur running along the beach, then connects that image to what the drug does (a diuretic flushing water out of the body).
• An SAT student remembers the word “abate” (to lessen) by picturing a “bait” pile of food that gets smaller as fish eat it.
• A history student connects “Treaty of Versailles” with the image of a “very sad” (sounds like “Versailles”) crowd after World War I, tying the sound of the word to its emotional impact.

All of these are simple examples of association techniques for memory: you attach a new fact to something familiar—sound, image, place, or feeling—so your brain has a hook to grab later.

Classic association examples: turning abstract facts into mental movies

Some of the best examples of association techniques for memory come from turning flat, abstract information into little mental movies.

Take vocabulary. Let’s say you need to remember:

• Loquacious – talkative
• Laconic – using few words

You might create a quick mental scene:

You’re at a party. “Loquacious Lisa” will not stop talking; she’s loud and lively. Across the room is “Laconic Luke,” standing quietly, answering with one-word replies. Lisa = loquacious, Luke = laconic. You’ve just built a story that acts as a built-in definition.

Here are more real examples of association in action:

• Math formulas: To remember the quadratic formula, many students sing it to the tune of a nursery rhyme. The formula gets associated with a melody, making recall easier under test pressure.
• Foreign language: To remember the Spanish word “lluvia” (rain), you might imagine a “you via” a rainy road, soaked while walking home. The silly phrase sticks better than a plain translation.
• Anatomy: Medical students often use wild imagery to remember cranial nerves or bone names. For example, they might imagine the “ulna” bone as an “ultra-long arm noodle” to remember its location.

These examples of association techniques for memory work because the brain loves meaning, pictures, and patterns more than random data. Research on memory and learning, including work summarized by the National Institutes of Health, consistently shows that connecting new material to prior knowledge improves long-term recall.

Visual association: the mental cartoon method

Visual association is one of the most powerful examples of association techniques for memory because the brain is wired to remember images.

Everyday example of visual association

You’re trying to remember that “beta blockers lower heart rate.” Instead of memorizing the sentence directly, you imagine a big letter B standing in front of a racing heart, blocking it and forcing it to slow down. That one image carries the concept.

Other visual examples include:

• Turning the word “photosynthesis” into a cartoon of a leaf with a camera (photo) taking in sunlight and snapping pictures, turning them into sugar cubes.
• For the psychology term “cognitive dissonance,” picturing a brain with two thought bubbles crashing into each other, looking annoyed.
• To remember the order of planets, many people use a sentence ("My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos") and then picture each word as a planet lined up in space.

These are all examples of association techniques for memory where the image functions as a shortcut to the underlying idea.

Modern study apps and digital flashcard platforms like Anki and Quizlet encourage this style of learning. Many students now build decks with images plus text, not just words, because visual association has been shown to improve recall and retention, especially for complex topics.

Story-based association: turning lists into mini-novels

Story-based association takes a list of disconnected items and weaves them into a short, weird narrative. The weirder, the better.

Real example of a story association

Suppose you need to remember this grocery list without writing it down:

• Eggs
• Bread
• Milk
• Apples
• Pasta

You could build a quick story:

You crack eggs onto a giant slice of bread that’s floating in a pool of milk. An apple falls from the sky and splashes into the milk, and then a rope of pasta pulls you out of the pool.

Because the story is unusual and visual, you’re far more likely to recall each item. This same approach works for test prep. For example, if you need to remember the steps of a biological process or the causes of a war, you turn each step or cause into a character or object in a story.

Memory competitors who appear in books and documentaries about memory sports use this kind of story association constantly. They build mental stories to remember hundreds of items in order, which shows just how far these examples of association techniques for memory can go when practiced.

Location-based association: the memory palace in real life

One of the oldest and best-known examples of association techniques for memory is the method of loci, often called the memory palace.

You take a place you know well—your home, your walk to school, your favorite café—and mentally “place” information along that route.

Simple example of a memory palace

Let’s say you’re studying for a history test and need to remember five key events in order. You might:

• Put Event 1 at your front door: you imagine soldiers knocking on it.
• Put Event 2 in your living room: a treaty sitting on your couch.
• Put Event 3 in your kitchen: a map burning on the stove.
• Put Event 4 in your bathroom: a leader giving a speech in the shower.
• Put Event 5 in your bedroom: a peace sign hanging over the bed.

When it’s time to recall, you “walk” through your house in your mind and pick up each event in order.

Studies referenced by organizations like Harvard University’s learning resources have highlighted how connecting information to spatial locations taps into a very strong part of human memory. It’s why you can remember your childhood home’s layout but not the last five phone numbers you heard.

This is one of the best examples of association techniques for memory when you need to remember sequences: speeches, processes, timelines, or multi-step arguments for essays.

Sound, rhythm, and chunking: association through music and patterns

Not all association is visual. Some of the most familiar examples of association techniques for memory use sound and rhythm.

Think about how you learned the alphabet: you probably sang it. The letters are associated with a melody. That same principle works for grown-up studying.

Example of sound-based association

• To remember a formula, you might turn it into a short chant with a beat.
• To memorize a list of legal factors, you might create a short, rhythmic phrase using the first letters of each factor.

There’s also chunking, which is a kind of pattern-based association. Instead of trying to remember 10 separate digits, you group them into chunks that feel familiar, like a phone number. The National Library of Medicine hosts multiple studies showing that chunking and pattern recognition significantly improve working memory performance.

Real example: Instead of memorizing 1 9 4 5 1 9 6 9, you might remember 1945 (end of World War II) and 1969 (year of the moon landing). Now you’ve turned random digits into two meaningful historical anchors.

Again, these are simple but powerful examples of association techniques for memory: you’re tying numbers to dates, sounds to formulas, and rhythms to lists.

Name and face association: people you actually remember

Remembering names is a classic struggle, but it’s also one of the clearest examples of association techniques for memory.

Practical example of name association

You meet someone named Rose who has curly red hair. You imagine a bright red rose blooming out of her hair. The next time you see her, that mental image pops up and brings her name with it.

More examples include:

• Mr. Brown who always wears a brown jacket: you exaggerate it in your mind into a full brown suit.
• Dr. King: you picture a tiny crown (for a king) floating above his head.
• Anna from Atlanta: you picture the word “Anna” written across a big highway sign saying “Welcome to Atlanta.”

These examples of association techniques for memory take a sound (the name), connect it to a visual cue (hair, clothing, place), and then exaggerate it just enough to make it stick.

This isn’t just a party trick. For teachers, managers, and health professionals, remembering names can improve rapport and outcomes. Organizations like the American Psychological Association often emphasize the social and professional benefits of accurate recall and personal connection.

How to build your own association system (step-by-step)

Seeing real examples is helpful, but the real power comes when you start creating your own. Here’s a simple way to turn any fact into an association:

1. Identify the target: Pick the exact thing you want to remember—a definition, formula, date, name, or list.
2. Break it down: Look for parts you can work with: sounds (what it reminds you of), meaning, shape, or category.
3. Choose a hook: Decide how you’ll associate it—image, story, place, sound, or person.
4. Make it vivid: Exaggerate. Make it funny, strange, or emotional. Plain equals forgettable.
5. Review briefly: Run through your associations a few times, especially within the first 24 hours.

For example, if the term is “homeostasis” (body’s tendency to maintain balance):

• Target: homeostasis.
• Break down: sounds like “home” + “stay.”
• Hook: visual image.
• Vivid twist: imagine your body as a house that shouts “Stay the same!” every time the temperature changes, rushing to adjust the thermostat.

Now you have a personal example of an association technique for memory that’s tailored to you.

In 2024–2025, more students are combining these classic methods with spaced repetition apps and digital note systems. They’re not just rereading notes; they’re building associations, then using technology to review those associations at smart intervals.

FAQ: Common questions about examples of association techniques for memory

What are some quick examples of association techniques for memory I can use before a test?

A few fast options: turn vocabulary words into silly images, link steps in a process to rooms in your house, or create a short story that includes every item you need to remember. Even a 2–3 minute association session can make recall easier under time pressure.

Can you give an example of using association for formulas?

Yes. For the physics formula F = ma (force equals mass times acceleration), you might imagine a giant letter F pushing a heavy mass on wheels, making it accelerate down a hill. The picture connects all three parts of the formula in one scene.

Are these examples of association techniques for memory backed by science?

Yes. Techniques like imagery, the method of loci, and chunking are well-studied in cognitive psychology. They take advantage of how the brain naturally organizes information into patterns and connections. You can explore research on memory and learning strategies through resources like the National Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine.

Do association techniques work for long-term memory or just short-term cramming?

They can support both, but they shine in long-term learning when you review the associations over time. Pairing association with spaced repetition (reviewing material at increasing intervals) is one of the best examples of using memory science effectively for exams and professional learning.

What if I’m not a “visual person”? Can association still help me?

Absolutely. Your associations don’t have to be detailed pictures. You can use sounds, stories, emotions, or patterns. For example, connecting a concept to a song you like, or linking a date to an event in your life, are both valid examples of association techniques for memory.

If you start small—one or two associations per study session—you’ll quickly see which style fits you best. Over time, you won’t just be memorizing; you’ll be building a web of connections that makes learning faster, less stressful, and a lot more satisfying.