Harness Your Senses: Why Multisensory Experiences Strengthen Learning
Modern cognitive research unpacks a simple fact your senses have always told you: when you link sights, sounds, and physical sensations, your brain forms deeper, richer memories. It’s not enough to just read or listen—blending multiple senses creates a network of connections that make recall faster and stronger.
Studies show that adding visuals to a lesson increases recall and creativity by over 50% compared to audio alone. Learners who experience a distinct smell (for example, popcorn during a movie memory experiment) later recall twice as many details when the same scent is present at test time. The ‘Proust effect’—a single aroma instantly triggering vivid memories—reveals how powerfully olfaction ties into autobiographical recall.
Teachers and coaches now routinely use multimedia presentations and tactile learning tools; businesses find that even subtle changes in environmental cues (like a lobby’s scent or touchpads in meetings) affect engagement and memory performance. Synesthesia, where senses involuntarily blend, even grants some individuals legendary memory powers, hinting at the untapped potential of our everyday experiences.
Harness your senses purposefully, and your learning becomes naturally more robust and joyful.
For your next big lesson or project, choose a song, a striking image, or a unique scent to associate with key material—use it as your 'signal'. When studying, involve your hands and body, not just your eyes; draw, build, or walk as you review. Before a test or challenge, cue up the same sensory elements to unlock stored memories and spark creativity. Try this multisensory approach now, and see if the results don’t surprise you.
What You'll Achieve
Significantly improved recall and creativity, a more engaging learning experience, and transferable skills for real-world communication and problem-solving.
Combine Sights, Sounds, and Smells for Maximum Recall
Pair audio with images or objects when learning.
Use narrated slides, listen while drawing, or match music with study topics—multisensory cues boost retention far beyond one sense alone.
Use physical movement (touch) or scent as a 'marker' for key concepts.
Hold or manipulate objects, or introduce a unique smell (like a scent stick or lotion) when learning something important, then revisit with the same cues.
Deliberately reintroduce these sensory cues during review.
When preparing for a big test or meeting, revisit your material using the same combination of sights, sounds, or smells you used when you first learned it.
Reflection Questions
- What sensory cues do you associate with your most memorable moments?
- How could you introduce new sights, sounds, or smells into your study or work routine?
- Who else on your team or in your family might benefit from multisensory strategies?
- What would it look like to make your next lesson or meeting a feast for the senses?
Personalization Tips
- A language student listens to native speakers while tracing letters with their finger and smelling peppermint oil.
- A software developer reviews code examples using colored pens, keyboard shortcuts, and favorite instrumental playlists.
- A parent and child bake together, describing textures and scents to make vocabulary lesson words stick.
Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School (Book & DVD)
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