important. >> reporter: foer agreed to teach me how to remember five random words by building something called a "memory palace." which is simple, and something anybody can do. it's a structure in your imagination where you place things that you want to remember. for my memory palace, i chose my childhood home. >> the first word's "microwave." >> reporter: okay. >> so, you would actually see an image of a microwave doing something really crazy outside the front door of your parents' place. >> reporter: okay. >> so, like, zapping, you know, maybe it's frying a cat or something. >> reporter: and that's the real trick here. scientists say, the more provocative the image, the easier it is to remember. another one of the words is "lively," for which i suggest the actress blake lively in my mom's living room. >> oh, that's really good. yes, okay. >> reporter: when it came time, i just walked through the memory palace and remembered all five words. >> perfect. you're, like, a memory champion. >> reporter: experts say you can use this technique to remember the things you need to buy at the store on your way home.