title: The use of an imagery mnemonic to teach the Krebs cycle.
abstract: The Krebs Cycle is a highly taught biochemical pathway that is traditionally difficult to learn. Twenty-seven undergraduate students were randomized to a rote memorization arm or to a mnemonic arm. They were given a pre-test, then shown a lecture corresponding to their assigned method, and then given an immediate Week 0 post-test and a Week 4 post-test. Groups scored comparably low on the pre-test (p = 0.7113). Students in the mnemonic arm performed better on the Week 0 post-test than those using rote (p = 0.0055). By Week 4, there was evidence of knowledge decay, with both arms' having comparably low scores (mnemonic vs. rote, p = 0.3739). The mnemonic assists in rapid acquisition of knowledge but probably has to be reviewed iteratively over time to demonstrate its full potential over rote memorization. A limited number of students from only one school was used. © 2016 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 44:224-229, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Ryoma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morisaki
authors.affiliation: Biostudy Solutions, LLC, Wilmington, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bon
authors.affiliation: Department of, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, Department of Dermatology, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Jacob O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Levitt
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002952:Citric Acid Cycle; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D057567:Memory, Long-Term; D011939:Mental Recall; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D013663:Teaching
keywords: Krebs cycle; imagery; memorization; memory; mnemonic