Ebbinghaus's Forgetting Curve

Definition

Ebbinghaus's Forgetting Curve refers to the concept that our memory of information decays over time in a predictable pattern. It suggests that we forget the most information shortly after learning it, with the rate of forgetting slowing down as time goes on.

Related terms

Retrieval Failure: This term refers to the inability to recall stored information due to missing or inadequate cues.

Interference: Interference occurs when new or old memories disrupt the retrieval of other memories.

Serial Position Effect: The serial position effect describes how our ability to recall items from a list depends on their position (primacy and recency) within that list.