How fast you forget

And, this naturally accelerates the forgetting curve. The more relevant the training, the easier it will be for them to absorb and remember the information they need. The more applicable to their daily tasks the information is, the more meaningful the learning experience becomes.

So, how can you apply this to your training programs? If you want learners to know new information or gain advanced skills, try to relate the training to information your learners already know. If the training solves pain points learners have, make sure they know that completing this training will help them. Your LMS should enable you to carry out creative repetition through various mediums, in addition to supporting blended learning, spaced learning, mLearning, and gamification.

I'm in studying for an exam which usually takes 24 months to complete the studies. But in my case, I'm going to finish it within 4 months. Share this article: facebook linkedin twitter mail. Subscribe to blog:. Motunrayo Monica Patel Ian If that is properly understood, students and teachers can adopt strategies to reduce memory leaks and reinforce learning. MIT neuroscientists, led by Richard Cho, explain the mechanisms for synaptic strengthening in a article , also published in Neuron.

When neurons are frequently fired, synaptic connections are strengthened; the opposite is true for neurons that are rarely fired. Known as synaptic plasticity , this explains why some memories persist while others fade away. Repeatedly accessing a stored but fading memory—like a rule of geometry or a crucial historical fact—rekindles the neural network that contains the memory and encodes it more deeply. Researchers have also learned that not all new memories are created equal.

For example, here are two sets of letters to remember:. For readers of English, the second set of letters is more memorable—the more connections neurons have to other neurons, the stronger the memory. For sure, forgetting rate may differ a little between individuals. Multitasking can play a huge part in memory failure. Switching back and forth between tasks, whether it be by choice or because of interruptions, can severely impair our ability to focus.

That can actually increase the time needed to complete each task. My experience - Switch On The Brain. Search Search for:. Painful memories can be upsetting and anxiety-provoking, so there are times we may desire to eliminate them. The two basic forms of motivated forgetting are suppression, which is a conscious form of forgetting, and repression, an unconscious form of forgetting.

However, the concept of repressed memories is not universally accepted by all psychologists. One of the problems with repressed memories is that it is difficult, if not impossible, to scientifically study whether or not a memory has been repressed.

Also note that mental activities such as rehearsal and remembering are important ways of strengthening memory, and memories of painful or traumatic life events are far less likely to be remembered, discussed, or rehearsed.

Forgetting painful memories and traumas may help people cope better. While these events might not be entirely forgotten, forgetting the vivid details can help blunt the difficult emotions that are attached to those memories and make them easier to live with. There are also a number of other factors that can play a role in why people forget.

Other common causes of forgetfulness include:. If you are concerned about your forgetting or if it is accompanied by other symptoms, talk to your doctor. Early intervention may help improve outcomes for some memory problems and conditions, so it is important to seek help right away.

While some forgetting is inevitable, there are some things you can do to help cement important information in your memory. Some practices that may help reduce forgetfulness include:. While forgetting is often viewed negatively, it can actually help improve memory. Being able to let go of irrelevant memories and only hold on to the important information helps keep those saved memories stronger, a phenomenon known as adaptive forgetting.

While forgetting is not something that you can avoid, understanding the reasons for it can be useful.

There are a number of reasons why you forget. In some cases, a number of factors may influence why you struggle to recall information and experiences. Understanding some of the factors that influence forgetting can make it easier to put memory-improvement strategies into practice. Ever wonder what your personality type means? Sign up to find out more in our Healthy Mind newsletter.

Chialvo DR, ed. Davis RL, Zhong Y. The biology of forgetting—a perspective. A progress report on the inhibitory account of retrieval-induced forgetting. Mem Cognit. Retrieval induces adaptive forgetting of competing memories via cortical pattern suppression [published correction appears in Nat Neurosci. Nat Neurosci. Long-term memory for a common object.

Cognitive Psychology. Rapid stimulation of human dentate gyrus function with acute mild exercise. Prefrontal atrophy, disrupted NREM slow waves and impaired hippocampal-dependent memory in aging.