Memory Recall & Retention: Practical Strategies for Students

Memory Retention vs. Memory Recall

Memory retention is the process of your brain holding onto information while memory recall is the process of retrieving that information from your memory. Improving retention will help you remember things for a longer period of time while improving recall will help you remember things more quickly and easily. This is helpful not only for studying because you won’t immediately forget information after learning it, but also in all other parts of your life.

Natural Memory vs. Trained Memory

There is natural memory, which is largely influenced by genetics, and trained memory, which can be improved through the process of memorization. If you naturally have trouble remembering things, don’t worry! Through improving your trained memory, you can improve both your memory retention and recall.

To better understand the tips and techniques that are useful for improving memory, let’s start with learning more about how your memory works, including the stages of how memories are formed, as well as the 3 main categories of memories.

Stages of Memory

There are 3 stages of memory:

1. Encoding
2. Storage
3. Retrieval/Recall

The process of encoding converts information into your brain. This information is stored in either short-term or long-term memory and can later be retrieved through memory recall.

Types of Memory

Next, let’s break down the different types of memory.

The 3 main categories of memory are:

1. Sensory Memory
2. Short-Term Memory
3. Long-Term Memory

I. Sensory Memory

Sensory memory has to do with the information we perceive through our senses. Sensory memories are typically only held onto for a brief amount of time (a couple seconds) and then forgotten. However, if these memories keep recurring, your brain may transfer them to short-term or long-term memory. (Note: Some researchers refer to sensory memory as more of a stage of memory than a category because it can be argued that all memories start as sensory memories.)

II. Short-Term Memory

Short-term memory can also be referred to as active memory or working memory. This is information that is kept in your brain for a short period of time (typically shorter than 30 seconds) in order to perform an action, actively learn something, or analyze something. After the action is completed, this information will either then be forgotten or transferred to your long-term memory.

III. Long-Term Memory

Long-term memory is the largest category when it comes to memory types. It is divided into 2 further categories: explicit memories and implicit memories.

• Explicit long-term memories are consciously formed and remembered. This includes episodic memory which has to do with events in your life and semantic memory which has to do with facts and information you’ve held onto over time.
• Implicit long-term memories, on other hand, are formed unconsciously. These often have to do with learning motor skills, such as how to ride a bike.

So, to summarize:

Sensory Memory

• Takes in information through your senses

Short-Term Memory

• Works through the information to perform an action or learn something

Long-Term Memory

1. Explicit long-term memories: consciously formed

• Episodic memory: life events
• Semantic memory: facts

2. Implicit long-term memories: unconsciously formed (ex: motor skills)

Tips & Techniques for Improving Memory

Now that we’ve gone over how memories are formed and stored, let’s get into some methods that can help improve memory retention and recall.

Memory retention techniques:

1. Organize information

• Create a detailed outline.
• Group related concepts and terms together (chunking)

2. Make associations

• Creating schemas is an effective technique for students to recall and retain information. A schema is basically a mental framework that links new knowledge to previously existing information, helping students to better understand and remember what they have learned.
• Associate new information with mental images, sounds, smells, etc.

3. Use visual cues

• Ex: concept maps, graphs, illustrations, photos, etc.
• This is especially helpful for visual learners or for presentations.

4. Create mnemonic devices

• Ex: acronyms, acrostics, rhymes, phrases
• Mnemonics help with memorizing information long-term!

5. Write it down by hand

• This is more effective than typing because it takes longer to write by hand, so your brain is more actively engaged with the information you are writing down.
• This also encourages you to only focus on the key information, which will be easier to remember.

6. Say it out loud

• The dual action of speaking plus hearing ourselves talk helps to get the information from our short-term memory to our long-term memory.

7. Engage in active recall

• Retrieval practice: regularly testing your knowledge to access the information stored in your memory. This can be done by using practice quizzes, flashcards, and quizzing yourself to recall specific facts or information.
• By regularly testing yourself, you can help to strengthen the connections between memories and increase your recall and retention of the material you are studying. Retrieval practice is one of the best ways to ensure that the information you are studying is stored in your long-term memory.

• This greatly helps improve memory recall!
• Memory recall is all about retrieving information from your memory, so the more you test yourself and practice that skill, the easier it will be for you to remember things quickly and efficiently.

8. Spaced repetition

• Space out learning the information over a period of time versus all at once.
• Rehearse by writing down the information or saying it aloud.
• Repetition will help you remember the information longer! Repetition helps you to commit information to your long-term memory.

Lifestyle tips for improving memory:

1. Sleep!

Sleep is essential for forming and retaining memories. Without adequate sleep, our minds do not have enough energy to properly commit new information to our long-term memory. Therefore, getting enough sleep is key to improving memory recall and retention. Additionally, sleeping helps to consolidate information and create more vivid memories. To ensure that you are getting enough rest, aim for 7-9 hours of sleep every night.

2. Meditation

Meditation can help to increase concentration and focus and reduce stress levels which can impact our ability to remember. Additionally, meditation can help to create new neural pathways in the brain, making it easier to recall memories. Regular meditation can also help to increase the brain’s ability to store information in long-term memory and improve the quality of memories.

3. Physical exercise

Physical exercise is a great way to improve memory recall and retention. Exercise increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which can help to boost cognitive function and increase the capacity to remember information. Additionally, exercise releases endorphins, which can help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can impact our ability to remember. Regular exercise is also known to help build new neural pathways, making it easier to recall memories, and can help to increase the brain’s ability to store information in long-term memory.

4. Healthy diet

A healthy diet is essential for improving memory recall and retention. Eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats can help to boost cognitive function and improve focus and concentration. Eating a healthy diet can also help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can have a negative impact on memory. Additionally, a healthy diet helps to increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which can help to increase the capacity to remember information. Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of improving memory recall and retention.

5. Limit stress

Limiting stress is a key factor in improving memory recall and retention. Stress can impair memory and cause difficulty in remembering and storing information. By reducing stress, we can improve our ability to concentrate, focus, and remember, as well as reduce the impact of stress on our memories. Limiting stress can help to create new neural pathways in the brain, making it easier to recall memories, and can help to increase the brain’s ability to store information in long-term memory. Limiting stress is an important part of improving memory recall and retention.

6. Play brain training games

Brain training games are a great way to improve memory recall and retention. These games are specifically designed to challenge the brain and help to create new neural pathways, making it easier to recall memories. Playing these brain training games can help to increase the brain’s capacity to remember information and can help to improve focus and concentration. Additionally, these games can be a fun and engaging way to learn, helping to reduce stress and anxiety and improve mood. Brain training games are an effective way to improve memory recall and retention.

Below are a few brain training games that we recommend:

1. Lumosity – a comprehensive suite of over 40 brain games designed to improve memory, attention, flexibility, problem solving, and other thinking skills.

2. Brain Age – a collection of brain training exercises designed to improve memory, concentration, and computation skills.

3. Elevate – a suite of brain games designed to improve memory, attention, focus, and problem solving skills.

4. Fit Brains Trainer – a series of fun and challenging brain games designed to improve memory, problem solving, language, attention, and more.

5. Memorado – an online brain training game designed to improve memory and cognitive skills

6. Brain & Puzzle – an online brain training game designed to improve focus, concentration, and memory.

7. Word Bubbles – a word game designed to improve memory, spelling, and vocabulary.

8. Crosswords – a classic puzzle game designed to improve memory, logic, and problem solving skills.

Study tips to help with memory recall & retention

1. Focus on one thing at a time

When you focus on one concept or task, your brain can quickly and efficiently encode the information, making it easier for you to store and recall the information later. By focusing on individual problems, you will be able to interact more with the material and remember it for longer without interference.

2. Study before going to bed

Studying before going to bed is an effective way to improve memory recall and retention. A good night’s sleep helps your brain process and retain the information you studied, instead of immediately forgetting it. This can help to encode the information and create new neural pathways in the brain, allowing for easier memory recall and better retention of the information. Additionally, getting enough sleep can help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can have a negative impact on memory.

3. Avoid cramming

The Forgetting Curve shows that we tend to forget things quickly unless effort is made to retain it. Cramming for exams may seem helpful in the short-term, but it does not provide enough time for your brain to properly process and store the information. Spaced repetition and regular revision are more effective in retaining information.

The Forgetting Curve is a theory which states that we tend to forget information soon after learning it unless effort is made to retain it. This means that if we want to retain new information, we have to actively engage with it and work on it over time. To maximize memory recall and retention, it is important to practice spaced repetition and regular revision over time to ensure that the information is properly encoded and stored in long-term memory.

4. Take breaks where you can allow your brain to rest

DO: get up and stretch, eat something, go for a short walk

• One benefit to letting your brain rest is increased focus – coming back to your studies feeling more alert and focused can help you to better retain information. Even simply laying down and letting your mind wander uninterrupted for a couple minutes will help.

DON’T: go on your phone or computer

• You want to avoid anything that will further distract and/or overstimulate your brain during your breaks (i.e. social media). Studies have shown that spending time on social media and looking at your phone can actually reduce your concentration and lead to distractions that can keep you from focusing and remembering the material you are studying. It is essential to avoid using your phone or computer during your breaks for the best results.

Conclusion: Use strategies to help remember and retain information.

Simply taking the time to rest is very beneficial for your brain. Active learning is far more effective than passively taking in information, so by trying out even a few of these tips and techniques you’re already on your way to seeing improvements in memory retention and recall. Remember to allow yourself time to rest and process information. Thank your brain for everything it does for you.

SEE ALSO: 20 Test-Taking Strategies to Boost Your Confidence

Sources:

Science-Backed Memory Tips and Recall Techniques | USAHS

11 Methods for Improving Your Memory | VeryWellMind

Different Types of Memory and their Functions | VeryWellMind

Memory, Encoding Storage and Retrieval | Simply Psychology 

A memory expert shares tips for improving your recall abilities | CBC Life