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Mind Mapping (Radiant Thinking)

cognitive · easy · 15-30 minutes per mind map

What is Mind Mapping (Radiant Thinking)?

Tony Buzan's visual thinking technique that mirrors the brain's natural associative structure. Start with a central idea and branch out radially with related concepts, keywords, and images. Studies show mind maps improve recall by 10-15% compared to linear notes and unlock creative connections.

Is there evidence for it?

EVIDENCEmoderate

How do you do Mind Mapping (Radiant Thinking)?

  1. 1.Place your central topic or question in the middle of a large blank page (landscape orientation, unlined paper)
  2. 2.Draw 5-7 thick branches radiating outward, each representing a main theme — use different colors for each branch
  3. 3.Add sub-branches with keywords (not sentences), images, and symbols. One word per branch forces you to distill ideas to their essence
  4. 4.Look for connections between branches — draw linking lines between related ideas on different branches
  5. 5.Use mind maps for brainstorming, note-taking, project planning, studying, and decision-making — anywhere you need to see the full picture

How long does it take?

15-30 minutes per mind map.

Is it hard to start?

easy.

Source: Tony Buzan — The Mind Map Book (1993); Farrand, Hussain & Hennessy (2002) study on mind map efficacy
thinking · creativity · notes · brainstorming · visual
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