How long does it really take to learn a new skill? Is it possible to retain information even after a long period of time has passed?
In this post, we'll cover the science behind learning and remembering information. We'll also discuss some common misconceptions about memory that may be holding you back from achieving your goals.
STEP 1: What You Will Learn Today:
By the end of today's post, you will have a better understanding of how we learn and retain information.
STEP 2: A Few Misconceptions About Memory:
We've all heard about how the brain is a muscle. And although this is true, it's easy to confuse a muscle with an organ.
Memory is a process that occurs in the brain. It involves the physical process of storing and retrieving information. The brain is responsible for these tasks, just like muscles are responsible for performing a certain action.
As with the muscle analogy, we have to use the same brain cell in order to remember something. This is why we need to re-access our memories.
STEP 3: Learning and Remembering Information:
We tend to think that once we learn something, we're done. However, memory is a constant process of both learning and forgetting.
When you learn something new, there is a process of consolidation. This is when you "store" the information so it can be accessed later.
There is a forgetting factor too. When you need to access an information, you must retrieve it and this process requires accessing a new region of the brain.
When you forget something, it doesn't mean the information is gone forever. It simply means you haven't accessed it for a while.
Over time, the brain will stop searching for the information and it will fade away, unless you access it again.
STEP 4: Common Misconceptions:
It is possible to "remember" information a long time after you've learned it, especially if you've taken extensive notes and written it down.
When this happens, your brain is re-using the original cells to store the information. This allows you to remember something much longer than your usual span of time.
The only problem with this technique is that it requires additional work.
When you "remember" something in this manner, you must look for the original piece of information or make a note of it somewhere. It can be on paper, in a computer file or in your head.
STEP 5: Using Brain Doping Methods:
While studying a subject, you can use strategies that may make learning easier or increase your chances of remembering it later.
The idea here is to "prime the pump". Priming involves the use of a word or phrase that gets linked with the subject matter. In the case of memorizing, this might be a verb, noun, object or other element of the topic.
The idea here is that the use of a word, phrase or image that relates to the subject matter makes it easier to remember when you need to recall it
I have a bad memory