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What are synesthetic encoding techniques?

By Randy Salars

Short Answer

Synesthetic encoding adds extra senses to mental images—color, sound, texture, taste, motion—to make them more distinctive. You’re not creating true synesthesia; you’re deliberately layering cues for recall.

Why This Matters

Because retrieval works via cues, multi-sensory details give your brain more “handles” to grab. Distinctive images reduce interference, which leads to fewer swaps between similar items and stronger long-term recall.

Where This Changes

Too many details can slow encoding, especially in speed events; keep the extra senses simple and consistent. If the sensory layer isn’t stable, it can become noise rather than a cue.

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