June 23, 2014

UCI study finds that learning by repetition impairs recall of details



Technique does enhance key facts in memories but blurs nuance and complexity

When learning, practice doesn’t always make perfect.

UC Irvine neurobiologists Zachariah Reagh and Michael Yassa have found that while repetition enhances the factual content of memories, it can reduce the amount of detail stored with those memories. This means that with repeated recall, nuanced aspects may fade away.