Techniques like spaced repetition can enhance memory retention from "summary" of Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
The idea that techniques like spaced repetition can enhance memory retention may seem counterintuitive at first. After all, how could simply spacing out the intervals at which you review information actually help you remember it better? But as I discovered on my journey into the world of memory competitions, spaced repetition turns out to be a highly effective tool for improving recall. By spacing out your review sessions over increasingly longer intervals, you are essentially forcing your brain to work harder to recall the information each time. This process of retrieval is crucial for strengthening memory, as it helps solidify the connections between neurons in the brain. The act of recalling a piece of information actually makes it more likely to be remembered in the future. Furthermore, spaced repetition takes advantage of the psychological phenomenon known as the spacing effect. This effect suggests that information that is presented and reviewed at spaced intervals is more likely to be retained in long-term memory compared to information that is presented all at once or in rapid succession. In other words, spacing out your review sessions allows for more effective encoding of the information into memory. Memory champions understand the power of spaced repetition and use it to their advantage when preparing for competitions. By strategically spacing out their review sessions over time, they are able to commit vast amounts of information to memory with astonishing accuracy. This technique not only helps them remember individual pieces of information better but also enables them to retain larger amounts of information over the long term.- Spaced repetition is a simple yet powerful tool for enhancing memory retention. By spacing out review sessions, you can improve your ability to recall information and strengthen your long-term memory. Memory champions have known this for years, and now you too can harness the power of spaced repetition to supercharge your memory.
