In spite of all these reasons for forgetting, people can still remember a vast amount
of information. In addition, memory can be enhanced in a variety of ways, including rehearsal,
overlearning, distributed practice, minimizing interference, deep processing, organizing
information, mnemonic devices, and visual imagery.
Rehearsal
Practicing material helps people remember it. The more people rehearse information, the more likely they are to remember that information.
Overlearning
Overlearning, or continuing to practice material even after it is
learned, also increases retention.
Distributed Practice
Learning material in short sessions over a long period is called distributed
practice or the “spacing effect.” This process is the opposite of cramming, which is
also called massed practice. Distributed practice is more effective than cramming
for retaining information.
Minimizing Interference
People remember material better if they don’t learn other, similar material right
before or soon after their effort. One way to minimize interference is to sleep after studying
material, since people can’t learn new material while sleeping.
Deep Processing
People also remember material better if they pay attention while learning it and think
about its meaning rather than memorize the information by rote. One way to process information
deeply is to use a method called elaboration. Elaboration involves associating the
material being learned with other material. For example, people could associate the new
material with previously learned material, with an anecdote from their own lives, with a
striking example, or with a movie they recently saw.
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