Forgetting

INFOGRAPHIC

Infographic: Science behind forgetting

Unless you have a photographic memory, you likely find it hard to remember everything you learn, even an hour or two after you learn it. Why? Research about how we remember and forget gives us a clue. 

19th century psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus created the “Forgetting Curve” after studying how quickly he learned, then forgot, a series of three-letter trigrams. Here’s what he discovered: 

Our brains are hardwired to recall important facts. The process that determines what you remember and what you forget makes recalling every single detail nearly impossible. 

In the century since Ebbinghaus discovered the Forgetting Curve, scientists have suggested several things you can do to reverse its effects: 

It was Ebbinghaus who first identified the phenomenon of spaced repetition for improving memory. Since then, numerous studies have affirmed its powerful effects. /.../