People I (Mostly) Admire 26. Memory Champion Nelson Dellis Helps Steve Train His Brain
May 8, 2021
Nelson Dellis, a four-time USA Memory Champion and author of "Memory Superpowers," shares his journey from having an average memory to mastering impressive techniques. He reveals that anyone can learn his skills and challenges Steve to try them out, leading to surprising results. The conversation covers the health implications of memory enhancement, particularly concerning aging and Alzheimer's. Dellis also explores fascinating memory tournaments, the effectiveness of visualization techniques, and the impact of multilingualism on memory skills.
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Card Memorization
- Nelson Dellis won the 2014 Memory Championship by memorizing two decks of cards.
- A clip shows him reciting the order: "Six of Diamonds, Ace of Spades…"
Binary Digit Record
- The world record for memorizing binary digits in 30 minutes is 7,485.
- This translates to memorizing four digits per second for 30 minutes straight.
Names and Faces Record
- Nelson Dellis holds the US record for memorizing 235 names and faces in 15 minutes.
- He associates pictures with names and links them to facial features.
