New research suggests that incorporating spaced learning and variability into study materials can significantly enhance memory retention. Psychologists from Temple University and the University of Pittsburgh conducted experiments that revealed the benefits of spaced learning on memory, depending on the variability present in the content across repetitions and the timing between learning opportunities. The findings indicate that both variability and spacing may present methods to improve memory for isolated features and associative information, with potential applications for future research, education, and everyday life.
Overlearning refers to the practice of continuing to study and review material even after it has been memorized. By repeating information well past the point of perfect recall, overlearning aims to achieve automaticity, where information can be effortlessly retrieved from longterm memory. This technique can lead to increased retention and better memory over time. To overlearn effectively, one should regularly review mastered material, such as re-reading chapters or notes, taking practice quizzes, or using flashcards, in order to reinforce and deepen understanding in longterm memory.
Sleep spindles, brief bursts of brain activity during sleep, could potentially help regulate anxiety in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study involved 45 participants who had all experienced trauma, with about half having moderate symptoms of PTSD, and half having milder symptoms or no symptoms at all. The research found that spindle frequency was higher during the “stress visit” than the control visit and that stress was a contributing factor in spindle-specific sleep rhythm changes. The study suggests that sleep hygiene, electrical brain stimulation, or prescription sleep medications could promote the sleep spindles associated with non-rapid eye movement 2 (NREM2) sleep and potentially benefit patients with stress and anxiety disorders.
