The ‘loci method’ is a popular mnemonic device that involves visualising and recalling items at specific points along a familiar route. The loci method has been used for thousands of years, and by many successful memory athletes; yet there have been relatively few educational and clinical applications, possibly owing to empirical uncertainty. The current meta-analysis of 13 randomised controlled trials mostly based in university settings, demonstrated the effectiveness of the loci method as a mnemonic device, with a medium effect size (g = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.45–0.85; I² = 45.5%). The effect size remained at similar levels in further analyses adjusting for publication bias, the impact of removing each study, setting, control conditions, outliers, and number of loci method sessions. High risk of experimental bias was indicated, however, as the vast majority of studies did not report procedures to minimise biases relating to random sequence generation and allocation concealment. Overall, this meta-analysis of predominantly university-based RCTs has provided good initial support for the loci method as mnemonic device and this may encourage future investigations and applications, particularly in educational settings, where it is has potential to improve recall of information relevant to academic success.

“轨迹法”是一种流行的助记方法，它涉及沿着熟悉的路线在特定点上可视化和回忆物品。基因座方法已经使用了数千年，并被许多成功的记忆运动员使用；然而，可能由于经验的不确定性，教育和临床应用相对较少。目前对主要基于大学环境的 13 项随机对照试验进行的荟萃分析证明了 loci 方法作为一种助记装置的有效性，具有中等效应量 (g = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.45–0.85; I ²= 45.5%）。在调整发表偏倚、删除每项研究的影响、设置、控制条件、异常值和基因座方法会话数的进一步分析中，效应大小保持在相似的水平。然而，表明存在高风险的实验偏倚，因为绝大多数研究没有报告将与随机序列生成和分配隐藏相关的偏倚降至最低的程序。总体而言，这项主要以大学为基础的 RCT 的荟萃分析为作为助记装置的基因座方法提供了良好的初步支持，这可能会鼓励未来的调查和应用，特别是在教育环境中，它有可能改善与相关信息的回忆学业上的成功。