The hidden benefits of forgetfulness

The pain of forgetting - We have all had those excruciating moments where a vital piece of information is on the tip of our tongue, or we just can’t recall that person’s name.

Seeing the bright side - Research shows, however, that it can be harnessed as a powerful learning technique.

Basic theory - In order to understand how forgetfulness can be beneficial, we need to understand how memories work.

Retrieval strength - Rather, they have two components: retrieval strength and storage strength. Retrieval strength refers to how quickly a memory can be summoned.

Storage strength - Storage strength refers to how fully represented the memory is in your mind.

Example: parent's name - A memory with both high retrieval strength and high storage strength, for example, would be the name of your parent or sibling.

Example: phone number - By contrast, a phone number that you learnt five minutes ago would have low retrieval and storage strength.

Retrieval vs. storage strength - Using forgetfulness to our advantage relies on the interplay between the retrieval strength and the storage strength of a memory.

Effortful retrieval - Research shows that we can increase the storage strength of a memory by what experts refer to as an "effortful retrieval."

Case in point - Let’s look at an example to illustrate this point. Imagine you are at a party and you have just been introduced to a friend of a friend.

Spacing out study - Spacing out one’s study schedule, for example, allows for the kind of forgetting that ultimately produces stronger memories.

Study breaks - Setting study materials aside and then revisiting them later also helps students who may have a false sense of command.

The crammers - Indeed, research shows that students who cram the night before do consistently better than their peers who follow a spaced-out study schedule.

The gradual learners - It is only in the weeks and months after the exam has passed that the superior knowledge of those who studied gradually becomes apparent.

A crammer's world - Of course, by that point, it’s too late. The crammers already have the better grades and the competitive advantage.

All in all - The human brain has an outstanding capacity for recollection, and using techniques such as well-timed forgetting helps us tap into that potential.