Memory — All Articles

Remembering depends on how you encode, store, and retrieve information. These guides explain each stage and the habits that make memories last.

Showing 22 articles taggedMemory.

A teenage student frowning with a hand on his forehead, trying to remember something while studying at a desk

Featured article

Why Do We Forget? How Memory Works and Fails

Why do we forget? How encoding, storage and retrieval work, the main theories of forgetting from decay to interference, and what students can do about each.

Mar 14, 202613 min read
A white desk with a spiral notebook, colored pencils, a sharpener, and a pencil case below two sticky notes
learning science14 min read

Retrieval Practice: The Testing Effect and How to Use It

Retrieval practice means recalling information to learn it. A century of testing-effect research, the landmark studies, when it works best, and how to use it.

Three students studying at an outdoor table, one writing in a notebook
study techniques15 min read

Elaborative Interrogation: How It Works, Examples, Limits

Elaborative interrogation means asking 'why is this true?' as you study. How it works, what research found, examples by subject, and a 25-minute routine.

A person sketching small diagrams in a spiral notebook next to a laptop
study techniques14 min read

Dual Coding: How to Study With Words and Visuals

Dual coding pairs words with visuals so you have two ways to recall an idea. Paivio's theory, Mayer's research, examples by subject and a worked set of notes.

Sticky notes, a pen, colored markers, and a stapler laid out on a light wooden desk
learning science12 min read

The Generation Effect: Why Making Answers Beats Reading

The generation effect: you remember what you produce yourself better than what you read. See the classic studies, its limits, and six ways to use it.

A reader writing notes in a grid notebook beside an open book on a wooden desk
active recall12 min read

How to Remember What You Read (Books and Textbooks)

How to remember what you read: preview, read one section at a time, recall it from memory before moving on, and space your reviews. With a textbook example.

A tired student in glasses asleep with her head on a stack of books
memory12 min read

Sleep and Memory: Why Sleep Helps You Remember

How sleep and memory are linked, why all-nighters backfire before exams, whether naps help you learn, and a simple sleep plan for students in exam season.

A student reading a document on a tablet in a classroom with classmates behind her
learning science11 min read

The Learning Styles Myth: Why VARK Doesn't Work

Are learning styles real? What the evidence says about VARK and the meshing hypothesis, why most teachers still believe it, and what helps learners instead.

A student writing Japanese notes on a tablet with a stylus while another student studies behind her
learning science12 min read

Desirable Difficulties: Why Harder Studying Works Better

Desirable difficulties make studying feel harder but make learning last. See Bjork's examples, the research, when difficulty backfires, and how to use it.

A wall covered in hundreds of colorful sticky notes, a picture of information before it is chunked
memory12 min read

Chunking Memory Technique: Examples and How to Use It

The chunking memory technique groups facts so working memory can hold more. See real examples, why Miller's 7±2 is outdated, and how to chunk your notes.

Teacher holding up two picture cards labelled Apple and Egg in front of students at a desk
memory16 min read

Mnemonic Devices: Types and 30+ Examples for Studying

Mnemonic devices that work for students: acronyms, acrostics, the keyword and peg methods, 30+ examples by subject, and when active recall works better.

A student with her hand in her hair writes a test in a classroom while a teacher walks between the desks
memory12 min read

How to Memorize Vocabulary Fast: 8 Techniques That Last

How to memorize vocabulary that sticks: self-testing, spaced repetition, context sentences, roots and keyword images for the GRE, SAT, IELTS or a new language.

Exam question paper and an answer sheet with a pencil on a classroom desk
memory14 min read

How to Memorize Formulas for Math, Physics, and Chemistry

How to memorize formulas: derive them from a few core equations, write formula sheets from memory, and drill situation-based cards on a spaced schedule.