The Forgetting Curve Video

Forgetting can be infuriating, particularly when you're trying to learn a new skill or absorb vital information. If you can't recall the knowledge you need, stress can build, and your confidence can plummet.

But when you understand why you forget, you can take steps to prevent it, and make sure that what you learn, sticks!

This is where the Forgetting Curve can help. It shows how, over time, the amount of information we retain decreases.

The Forgetting Curve was first developed by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus, who experimented on his own memory to discover more about how we forget.

His research revealed some important things about memories...

First, they weaken over time. If we learn something new, but then make no attempt to relearn it, we remember less and less as the hours, days and weeks go by.

Most forgetting happens soon after learning. For example, you may leave a meeting with your head full of new facts and figures, only to find that you can remember very little just hours later. That's why the Forgetting Curve is so steep!

It's easier to remember things that have meaning. When Ebbinghaus tried learning meaningless syllables, he found they quickly dropped out of his memory. But, if you're learning about a subject that really engages and interests you, then you'll more likely retain that information for longer.

The way something is presented affects learning. The same set of information can be made more or less memorable, depending on how clearly and powerfully it's communicated.

How you feel affects how well you remember. Ebbinghaus showed that physiological factors, like stress and sleep, also have a significant impact on how much information you retain.

It's tempting to think that the Forgetting Curve paints a bleak picture of learning. But it's not all negative. In fact, there are four things we can do to make our memory work better for us!

First, use "spaced learning." This is when you review new information that you've learned at key moments on the Forgetting Curve to slow down the rate at which you forget. The solid lines on the Forgetting Curve show how memory is boosted by each review session. The dotted lines show the forgetting that would have happened otherwise. Information still fades after each review. But it happens more slowly each time. So, you can leave longer and longer gaps between your review sessions as time goes by.

Second, it's good to "overlearn." Ebbinghaus found that putting extra effort into learning something helps you to remember it for longer.

Next, make what you learn meaningful. How will it help you? How can you apply it in your role? The more you know how something will benefit you, the more likely your memory will prioritize it.

Finally, keep challenging your memory. When you discover a gap, don't despair! This is the most productive time for stretching your recall. The learning you do at this point will be all the stronger because of the mental challenge involved.

So, take heart from the Forgetting Curve! It's natural for learning to fade over time. But there are some simple things you can do to fight back, and strengthen your power of recall!

To learn more about the forgetting curve, read the article that accompanies this video.