Introduction
Medical school requires you to learn an enormous amount of information and, crucially, retain it. Traditional studying methods often fail because they don't account for how memory actually works. Spaced repetition is a learning technique built on cognitive science that can dramatically improve your retention.
The Forgetting Curve
Ebbinghaus's Discovery
In the 1880s, German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus discovered something profound about human memory: we forget information in a predictable pattern. Without review, we lose roughly 70% of new information within 24 hours.
The Key Insight
Each time you successfully recall information, the forgetting curve flattens. The memory becomes more durable.
How Spaced Repetition Works
The Spacing Effect
The spacing effect is one of the most robust findings in cognitive psychology. Information reviewed at increasing intervals is retained far better than information reviewed repeatedly in a single session.
Active Recall
Spaced repetition is most effective when combined with active recall, actively retrieving information rather than passively reviewing it.
Implementing Spaced Repetition
The Algorithm
Modern spaced repetition systems use algorithms to optimize review timing.
Optimal Intervals
Research suggests effective intervals follow roughly this pattern:
- First review: 1 day after initial learning
- Second review: 3 days later
- Third review: 7 days later
- Fourth review: 14 days later
- Fifth review: 30 days later
Conclusion
Spaced repetition isn't a magic trick; it's applied cognitive science. By working with how memory actually functions, you can learn more effectively and retain information far longer than traditional study methods allow.
