What is mind mapping? 
 

A mind map basically reflects our brains; the way our brains function at best.   

Our memory consists out of associations . Not in a linear way (the way we take notes).

You're probably not going to be surprised when I tell you that every idea you have, is probably consisting out of hundreds if not thousands links/associations. A mind map empowers you to structure this amount of links and associations. And this is gives you a more in-depth insight and overview over your idea. 

We think in keywords or key-images. We actually don't remind sentences so well. We remember keywords and when we tell what we remember, we are producing sentences which connect these keywords/images to each other. We only do this in order to make bridges between different keywords and key images.
If we want to remember a line/sentence, most of us would have to cram on this line in order to recall this line exactly. 

This is difficult and definitely not fun to do. 

Normally when trying to recall a sentence literally, we remember the context of the line, but not the precise words.

 
Keywords and images 

A mind map consists out of keywords and images (we are literally going to use the saying: an images is worth a thousand words), colors and a STRUCTURE. As a result 90% of the normal info we would use, we can forget in a mind map. Due to this we can stuff way more info in a mind map. All this info on one sheet of paper! This paper will provide you with an overview over the project and at the same time the mind map will contain detailed information. 

Just imagine: This is not possible with our normal way of note taking. 

Look at what we normally do. We note our important thoughts. These thoughts form lines/sentences. We all write these important thoughts down on a piece of paper. This piece of paper is growing by the minute. Soon these notes become two, three, and four ...endless amounts of pieces of paper.
But realize this;
1. The moment you are turning a paper, you're actually already out of context.
2. Finding crucial info back becomes nastier the moment the amount of papers is growing.
3. Last but not least; the way you write your notes is very monotone. How do you expect your brains to like what you're writing and therefore easily remember it? 

Your brain loves action, variety, out-of-the-box material; it will instantly remember these weird things.
That is exactly what you can do with a mind map. 

And with a mind map you will stay IN CONTEXT. Even when doodling on the same piece of paper on which you make your mind map, you're still in context; I'll bet you that this doodle will still contain relevant info about the subject: But still, all notes are on one piece of paper. 

A mind map is way more visual by nature than our standard way of note taking. In a mind map the structure shows and clarifies the nature, hierarchy and associational link between keywords in a blink of an eye.
A mind map can pull your attention to specific subjects while maintaining the helicopter view.
A mind map makes you remember effortlessly in contrast to our conventional way of thinking and note taking. 

I will say it differently; a mind map is structuring info almost the same way that our brain is doing it. 

While saying this, you'll probably realize that reviewing info in a mind map will be done quickly as well. If you review your info in a mind map on a frequent basis (which will probably cost you about 2 to 3 minutes every time you review) it will result in:
1. Review time is way shorter than the usual way.
2. The brains will absorb the info automatically. 

The mind map actually is like a road map