When you study, you transfer new information into long-term memory. Every time we learn something new, the structure of the brain actually changes, as we build new connection to information that we already know. When there are more connections to the new information, it’s easier to find it again.
Brain researchers have discovered four key points for effective study.
• Make an effort. The brain remembers better when we are interested in the subject, already know a little about it, and know we will need the information in the future.
• Find the most important information and organize it. Your brain can process only a limited amount of information at one time, so don’t try to remember every detail. When studying a textbook, look for titles, heading, and illustrations to show you the main ideas.
• Make the new brain connections stronger. One technique is to recite the ideas out loud in your own words. This is the most powerful way to transfer information from short-term to long-term memory. Another method is drawing a picture of the information, to activate the visual part of the brain.
• Give the new material time to soak in ̶ your brain has to build new physical connections. For this reason, it’s better to study for several short sessions than one long one. And cramming the night before a big test doesn’t help.
By understanding how the brain works, and following these four tips, you can make this your most successful academic year ever.