Advanced Memory: The PAO System

Are you ready to take your memory to the next level? Meet the PAO memory system, a powerful technique that has been used by memory athletes worldwide to achieve extraordinary feats of recall. PAO stands for Person-Action-Object and it’s a powerful method that utilizes the natural human ability to remember people, actions and objects, to help commit information to memory. Whether you are a student looking to improve your study habits, a professional wanting to boost your productivity, or an aspiring memory athlete, the PAO system is a must-have tool in your arsenal. This powerful technique can help you to remember anything from names and faces, to shopping lists and appointments. Let’s dive into the world of PAO and unlock the full potential of your memory.

Upgrading to a PAO System

I used to rely solely on the Major System to remember numbers and playing cards. While the Major System is a useful tool on its own, I realized that it wouldn’t be sufficient for competing in memory competitions.

However, as I developed my use of the PAO memory system, I incorporated elements of the Major System to make it even more effective. By including the Major System, I can use the consonant sounds as a clue when I am struggling to recall information.

For example, if I were to stumble upon the number 04, I know that the person, action, and object associated with it will all have the sounds “s” and “n.” With this information, I may be able to deduce that the image is Isaac Newton sneezing on a sandwich.

Why use a PAO System?

It’s true that the PAO memory system does require some initial effort to set up and master. However, once it is learned, the benefits are well worth the investment. The way that information is condensed into a single scene can turn multiple digits into one memorable image.

For example, by using my PAO chart, the number 713904 becomes a vivid image of Catwoman mopping a sarcophagus. When combined with the use of a Memory Palace, it becomes an incredibly powerful tool for memorization. So, while there may be more work upfront, it’s a technique that can give you a significant head start in remembering information.

How the PAO System Works

I will be using a two-digit PAO system, meaning that every set of digits from 00 to 99 has a person, action, and object attached to it. When we read off a number, such as 713904, we first break it down into a series of two-digit numbers, in this case: 71-39-04. The first two digits correspond to the person, the second two to the action, and the last two to the object.

As an example, if you refer to the chart below, you will see that 71 is associated with Catwoman, cutting, and cat. In this case, we only need the person, Catwoman, from this selection. Similarly, 39 is associated with Miss Piggy, mopping, and map. Since it is the second set of digits, we need the action, mopping. Lastly, 04 is associated with Salman Rushdie, serenading, and sarcophagus. Since it is the final set of digits, we will take the object, sarcophagus.

It’s essential to visualize these vignettes as vividly as possible and to place the story inside a Memory Palace, which is another technique that can be used to enhance the effectiveness of the PAO system.

I have posted my PAO chart below as a starting point, and I may make some changes as I work through the system. I’m also creating flashcards for each of the PAOs, and I will update this article when they are ready.

Enjoy exploring this powerful memory technique!

Number	Person	Action	Object
00	Sylvester Stalone	sassing	sausages
01	Steven Tyler	strangling	stork
02	Isaac Newton	sneezing	sandwich
03	Superman	smoking	sea monster
04	Salman Rushdie	serenading	sarcophagus
05	Shia Labeouf	saluting	salamander
06	Swedish Chef	shooting	shark
07	Simon Cowell	sucking	squirrel
08	Sigmund Freud	sifting	saffron
09	Scotty Pippen	sipping	spiders
10	Tony Soprano	tazing	toaster
11	Tony Tiger	tightening	tits
12	Trevor Noah	tuning	tuna
13	Toni Morrison	tempting	tomato
14	Tony Robbins	tracing	tree
15	Tommy Lee	tilting	television
16	Tommy Chong	teaching	t-shirt
17	Tia Carrera	tickling	taco
18	Tina Fey	transferring	taffy
19	Tom Petty	tapping	table
20	Nastradamus	nesting	nest
21	Nikola Tesla	notarizing	nuts
22	Nick Nolte	nagging	nanobots
23	Nelson Mandela	numbing	namplates
24	Nancy Reagan	nursing	nurse
25	Neil Armstrong	nailing	Nile
26	Noam Chomsky	navigating	nachos
27	Nick Kroll	nicking	necks
28	Ned Flanders	neighing	Newfies
29	Natalie Portman	napping	North Pole
30	Marge Simpson	moistening	music
31	Mr. T	mottling	meat
32	Minnie (Mouse)	mangling	moon
33	Marvin the Martian	miming	muumuu
34	Mr. Rogers	marking	mermaid
35	Mario Lemeux	milking	melon
36	Macho (Man)	mashing	mushroom
37	Mark Cuban	making	macaroni
38	Morgan Freeman	moving (*too close to transferring?)	muffin
39	Miss Piggy	mopping	map
40	Richard Simmons	racing	raisins
41	Raymond Holt	rattling	rutabega
42	Richard Nixon	ransacking	rainbow
43	Ralph Machio	remembering	ram
44	Road Runner	reading	railroad
45	Rob Lowe	rolling	(bread) roll
46	Richard Branson	recharging	radish
47	Russell Crowe	rocking	raccoon
48	Roger Federer	refusing	ruffians
49	Russell Peters	rapping	raven
50	Lisa Simpson	listening	lizard
51	Leon Trotsky	litigating	litter
52	Link (Zelda)	lunging	Lincoln
53	Lightning McQueen	lamenting	lama
54	Leia Organa	lording	lure
55	Louis L'Amour	laying	lollipop
56	Lon Chaney	latching	leech
57	Lara Croft	licking	lockbox
58	Laurence Fishburne	laughing	leaf
59	Louis Prima	leaping	leopard
60	Charlie Sheen	chest compressions	cheese
61	Chris Tucker	shitting	shingles
62	Chuck Norris	chunking	chainsaw
63	Charles Manson	shimmying	chum
64	Cher	cheering	Christmas tree
65	Charles Lucky Luciano	shouldering	challis
66	Chester Cheetah	cha-cha-ing	chakra (floating eye)
67	Chaka Khan	shaking	cheque
68	Chris Farley	shuffling	chef
69	Charlie Chaplin	shaping	chaps
70	Casper	kissing	chrysanthemums
71	Catwoman	cutting	cat
72	Candy, John	canjuring	candy cane
73	Karl Marx	cumming	camel
74	Keanu Reeves	carrying	crab
75	Kenny Loggins	killing	coyote
76	Carol Channing	crushing	ketchup
77	Captain Caveman	kicking	Kitkat
78	Kung Fu Panda	coughing	knife
79	Kirby	keeping	cape
80	Frank Sinatra	fisting	fossil
81	Father Time	fighting	fetus
82	Fiona (from Shrek)	fainting	fawn
83	Freddie Mercury	fumigating	foam
84	Franklin Roosevelt	farting	ferret
85	The Flash	filming	flamingo
86	Frederick Chopin	fishing	fish
87	Fidel Castro	fucking	ficus
88	Fred Flinstone	offending	fife
89	Fabio	fabricating	fiberboard
90	Patrick Star	passing	pussy
91	Pete Townsend	petting	patella
92	Pam Anderson	painting	penus
93	Pac Man	pumping	pumpkin
94	Professor X	piercing	parrot
95	(Emperor) Palpatine	peeling	pelican
96	Prince Charming	pushing	pachyderm
97	Penelope Cruz	packing	pike
98	PT Barnum	peeing	pufferfish
99	Papyrus	peeping	puppeteer