Why Your Memory Gets Stronger When You Use All 5 Senses (and Add Movement)
Why Some Memories Stick (and Others Slip Away)
Let me ask you this.
Do you remember the smell of your grandma’s cooking? Or the sound of a favourite song that instantly takes you back years? How about the time you stubbed your toe on the corner of the bed, you can probably still feel it just thinking about it.
Those memories are powerful. They’re clear. They’re sticky.
Now compare that with something like a random fact you read in a textbook last year. Chances are, that’s long gone.
This isn’t about intelligence. It’s about how the brain works. Memory is sensory. The more senses you use, the more likely something is to stay with you. And when you add movement on top of that, you turn ordinary information into unforgettable experiences.
I discovered this the hard way. When I first got into memory competitions, I knew the techniques, Memory Palaces, linking, associations. They worked. But often the images I created were flat. They didn’t have life. They slipped away when I needed them most.
It wasn’t until I started deliberately adding senses and movement that things changed. Suddenly, the pictures in my mind weren’t just still shots, they were experiences. And experiences are what the brain holds onto.
The Power of the Five Senses in Memory
When you memorise something using only sight, you’re working with one layer. That’s like watching a movie with the sound off. You’ll catch the story, but it won’t hit you emotionally.
Bring in all five senses, and you’ve turned that movie into full surround sound with 3D effects. It’s immersive, and once you’ve experienced it, you can’t unsee it.
Let’s break down how each sense strengthens memory, with examples you can use right away.
1. Sight
We think in pictures. That’s why most memory techniques rely on visuals.
But there’s a difference between a vague picture and a vivid one.
Vague: You imagine “a dog.”
Vivid: You imagine a massive purple dog wearing sunglasses, riding a skateboard, with sparks flying off the wheels.
See the difference? The second one pops.
Exercise: Pick a random object near you. Instead of picturing it plainly, exaggerate the colours, make it oversized or shrunken, and notice how much stronger the image feels.
2. Sound
Sound adds a whole new dimension.
Think of a glass shattering. Even imagining it, you can hear the sharp crack. That sound locks the image in place.
Example: If you want to remember the word “bell,” don’t just see a bell. Hear the loud clang! echoing in your head.
Exercise: Next time you memorise a list, give each item a sound. Make it exaggerated — a banana doesn’t just peel, it explodes with a comical “boing!”
3. Touch
Touch adds texture.
Imagine holding sandpaper. You can almost feel the roughness scraping your fingers. That’s hard to forget.
Example: If you need to remember “ice,” don’t just picture ice cubes. Imagine holding one in your bare hand until your fingers ache with the cold.
Exercise: Take three random words and give each one a texture — smooth, slimy, rough, sticky. See how much faster you recall them.
4. Smell
Smell is one of the strongest memory triggers we have.
Why? Because the olfactory system is directly linked to the emotional centre of the brain. That’s why a whiff of sunscreen can instantly take you back to summers at the beach.
Example: To remember “coffee,” don’t just picture a cup. Smell the rich aroma wafting out. Imagine it filling your nose until you can almost taste it.
Exercise: Try linking a smell to something you want to learn. Make it exaggerated. A shoe that reeks so badly you can’t stand near it, or flowers so strong they knock you out.
5. Taste
Taste is underused in memory, but it’s powerful.
Example: To remember “apple,” don’t just see it. Bite into it. Taste the crunch, the sweetness, or even make it sour and bitter so it shocks your tongue.
Exercise: Take a word like “book.” Give it a taste. Maybe it tastes like chocolate. The stranger the connection, the better it will stick.
Putting It All Together
Now, imagine combining all five senses.
Take “pen” again.
Sight: See it shiny and glowing.
Sound: Hear it scratching loudly across paper.
Touch: Feel it heavy and slippery in your hand.
Smell: Catch the sharp scent of ink.
Taste: Imagine licking it and coughing from the bitterness.
That’s no longer just a pen. That’s a full sensory memory.
Movement: The Missing Ingredient
Now let’s add the magic ingredient — movement.
Movement transforms an image from a flat photo into a full-blown movie scene.
Think about a chair. Just sitting there, it’s forgettable.
But if that chair suddenly tips over and throws you to the ground, you’ll never forget it.
Why Movement Works
From an evolutionary perspective, movement meant survival. A moving predator, or a moving opportunity, grabbed attention. Our brains are wired to notice and remember movement.
That same wiring still works today. By adding action, you’re signalling to your brain: “This is important. Don’t forget it.”
Ways to Add Movement
Make objects move on their own: a pen jumping off the table.
Put yourself in motion: running around the object, flying over it.
Create interaction: the object chasing you, hitting you, exploding in your hands.
The wilder the movement, the better.
Everyday Applications of Senses + Movement
Let’s bring this down to practical examples you can use right away.
Remembering Names
Meet someone called “Rose.”
Sight: Picture a giant rose on her head.
Smell: The fragrance is overwhelming.
Touch: The thorns scratch your hand as you shake hers.
Movement: The rose grows taller, sways back and forth, and pokes you in the eye.
That’s unforgettable.
Studying for Exams
Need to learn the word “photosynthesis”?
Sight: A giant leaf glowing bright green.
Sound: Hear the buzzing as it makes energy.
Touch: Feel the warmth coming off it.
Movement: The leaf swells like a balloon, then bursts into rays of sunlight.
Now you don’t just know the word — you’ve experienced it.
Giving a Speech
Opening line: “Innovation is the key.”
Sight: A massive golden key shining.
Sound: Hear it clanging as it unlocks a giant door.
Smell: Imagine it sparking and burning.
Movement: The key floats out of your mouth and opens the door behind you on stage.
That image will remind you instantly where to start.
Daily To-Do List
Shopping list: eggs, bread, cheese.
Eggs: Hear them cracking. Feel gooey yolk running through your fingers. One egg bounces on the ground like a rubber ball.
Bread: Smell the fresh loaf. Imagine it growing legs and chasing you down the street.
Cheese: Taste the sharpness. A giant block melts all over your car.
Now your shopping list is unforgettable.
A Simple Daily Drill
Here’s a quick workout you can try every day to strengthen your sensory memory muscles:
Pick 3–5 random words.
Create an image for each word.
Add at least three senses to each one.
Add one movement — make it bounce, fly, explode, chase you.
Review them after five minutes, then again after an hour.
Do this consistently and you’ll find your memory becoming sharper and more creative almost automatically.
My Competition Breakthrough
When I started using senses and movement in competitions, everything changed.
Before, I’d memorise a deck of cards by placing static images in my Memory Palace. Sometimes I’d recall them, sometimes I’d slip.
After applying senses and movement, those same cards became experiences. The queen wasn’t just a static image, she was laughing loudly, slapping me across the face, her perfume filling my nose.
That’s the level of vividness that made me consistent. That’s what helped me finally win after years of frustration.
Why This Goes Beyond Memory
The best part? These principles don’t just improve memory. They make learning, communication, and life itself more engaging.
For students: Information sticks faster.
For professionals: Presentations and pitches become unforgettable.
For everyone: Everyday life becomes richer when you notice with all your senses.
It’s like switching from black-and-white TV to full-colour, surround-sound reality.
Your Next Step
Next time you want to remember something — a name, a task, a fact — don’t just picture it.
Add the senses.
Add movement.
Make it an experience, not just an image.
Do that, and your memory will grow stronger, sharper, and more reliable.
And if you’d like to go deeper to learn how to apply these techniques systematically to your work, study, or daily life, that’s exactly what I do with my coaching.
👉 Explore memory coaching with me by clicking here.
