Do more with less memory

Chapter 6 Combatting Forgetting with Repetitive Memorization
What is remembered in the human brain will be gradually forgotten.The shallower the memory, the faster the forgetting; the deeper the memory, the slower the forgetting. "Repetition is the mother of learning", memory is carried out in repetition, and repetition is one of the most powerful weapons to fight against forgetting.Repeated learning not only has the effect of repairing and consolidating memory, but also deepens understanding.

Memory is the cognitive activity of remembering and reproducing things experienced.It includes four aspects: memorization, retention, reproduction, and recognition.The depth of memory is not only related to the intensity of the stimulus, but also directly related to the number of repetitions.Under certain conditions, the more repetitions, the deeper the memory.

Every week a song or an episode of a TV series feels strange when you first listen to it, but after a week, you can basically sing it.When you first receive new knowledge, you need to repeat it, otherwise the impression will be too shallow and will not produce a memory effect in your brain.It's like a car without brakes. It can only stand firm when it climbs to the top of the slope, and it is easy to slip down when the engine is turned off halfway up the slope.Repetition is like an engine. It should push the memory truck up the "top" that is conducive to maintaining information before resting.

1. Repetitive memory thinking method is a thinking tool to strengthen memorization and retention.

There are four indicators to measure the quality of a person's memory:

The agility of memory refers to the speed of memory.

Persistence of memory refers to how long something is remembered.

The correctness of memory refers to the accurate reproduction of what is remembered.

The reserve of memory can reproduce the things kept in the memory when needed.To achieve memorization and retention, and to overcome forgetting, the most effective way is to repeat the memory.

2. Repetitive memory thinking method is a bridge from memorization and maintenance to reproduction and recognition.

Memory is an important psychological condition created by science.The experience of the predecessors is the summary and generalization of the practical activities of the predecessors, and it is also the basis for the scientific creation of the future generations.Scientists can establish their own creative direction on the basis of predecessors' research work if they are knowledgeable and memorized.Contemporary science and technology are advancing by leaps and bounds, "knowledge explosion" and knowledge aging are accelerating, and knowledge is updated rapidly. This requires people to have a good memory, keep learning new knowledge, and absorb the latest scientific achievements in a timely manner in order to better carry out scientific creation.It can be seen that the thinking method of repeated memory can not only promote people's memory and keep memory, but also serve as a bridge and link for people to reproduce and re-recognize (re-create) quickly.

3. Repetitive memory Thinking is an assistant to enhance memory.

To activate the knowledge in the book into your own knowledge, you must start with memory.Marx had a habit of rereading the marked places in his notebooks and books every once in a while to consolidate his memory.

The famous Czech educator Comenius pointed out: "Memory should not be rested, because there is no ability that is easier to operate than it. You have to find something for memory every day, because the more you remember it, the better it will be. Can remember honestly, the less you give, the more dishonest it will remember." The human brain needs continuous training, the more the brain is used, the more efficient it becomes, and anyone who does not train the brain for a long time will surely become dull and forgetful.This fully demonstrates that the repetitive memory thinking method is the most honest friend and assistant for improving memory, enhancing memory, exercising memory, and developing memory.

Forgetting is the enemy of memory, it makes memory traces fade away or even disappear.Through repetition, the traces of the cerebral cortex can be strengthened, so as to achieve the purpose of deepening the understanding of the recorded content, repairing and consolidating the memory.If the degree of learning and memory reaches 150%, the memory will be strengthened, and the learned content will be unforgettable for a long time.When learning a lot of knowledge, it is inevitable that it is not deep and comprehensive, and it is impossible to grasp the inner connection of knowledge.In the future, as the content of learning increases, the knowledge before and after can be organized and systematized through repetition, so that the understanding will be more thorough.

The relationship between repetition and forgetting: first, the more repetitions, the slower the forgetting; second, the speed of forgetting is not simply proportional to the time interval, but is fast first and then slow.Forgetting is about time.A college student who does not associate with any classmates within ten years after graduation will forget the names of many classmates.A farmer who graduated from high school will forget to write when he does not study, read newspapers, or write within five years.

When using the method of repeated memory, scientifically arrange the number of repetitions and the time interval.Generally speaking, for complex and hard-to-remember content, the number of repetitions should be more.It is best to repeat when the memory is about to disappear, and the interval between repetitions is gradually increased from short to long, so that the effect of getting twice the result with half the effort can be achieved.

Some studies have shown that the forgetting rate is the highest on the second day of memory, about 50%, that is, a person may forget 50% of his memory on the second day, about 30% on the third day, and about 10% on the fourth day.

It can be seen that the first review should be timely, and it is best to review the newly learned content within 12 hours, and strengthen it when the memory is still relatively clear and the amount of information in the mind is still large.The interval between the second review can be slightly longer, such as two days.After that, the interval can be longer, such as one week, half a month, one month, half a year, one year, and several years.The time spent on reviewing will also be shortened in turn, and you only need to go through it with your eyes or ears.

In this way, the review is arranged in a heavy and light, dense and sparse manner first, and the effect is excellent.In view of this, we can: before memorizing new things every day, first repeat the knowledge points of yesterday (about half an hour) and the knowledge points of the day before yesterday and the day before yesterday (about 10 minutes each. In fact, it is a serious browsing).In this way, the daily knowledge points will be memorized repeatedly in the next three days. (Mark the date of study on the notebook) On weekends, you can also quickly browse through the knowledge points of last week.We will find that this method is particularly effective, the knowledge points can be firmly remembered, and the things memorized a month ago are still very clear in our minds.

It doesn't take a lot of time every day, it's just a little troublesome, and the most important thing is to form a habit.If this method is not very reasonable in terms of time allocation, you can adjust it according to your actual situation.

In order to cope with the exam, many students like to grind their guns in front of the battle. The knowledge learned in this way does not reach the purpose of permanent memory. They are often remembered and forgotten quickly, just like a bear breaking a stick. Although there are many broken sticks, there is not much left in the end.The scientific approach is: for basic knowledge that must be stored internally, try to master it as soon as possible, and arrange review in due course; for temporary coping knowledge that does not need to be stored for a long time, practice sharpening.

There are also many students who have a kind of inertia in the arrangement of learning content. When they learn something new, they forget to review it; when reviewing a certain course, they forget other courses.This approach is also not advisable.This is because when they focus on reviewing or studying a certain course, the content of other courses is almost forgotten due to being put on hold for too long, and it will inevitably take a lot of time and energy to review.If the review is arranged at the right time, it will save time and effort.Reviewing is like cleaning the dust covering the memory. When there is little dust, it will be blown off;

The scientific approach is:

The knowledge learning of various subjects goes hand in hand, and the review also goes hand in hand.When reviewing, for the first time, remember the basic concepts, basic theories, and basic methods in rough lines, and make them networked through systematic induction, and memorize them in your mind; Comparing with the previous questions, strive to "one step is not a lot, not a single word"; do the exercises in the book for the third time, so that you can understand it at a glance.After that, choose to do some exercises in the reference book.Only in this way can we receive satisfactory results, improve memory, and benefit a lot.

(End of this chapter)