什麼纔是省時又省力的記憶規律？

The human brain is arguably the most amazing, mysterious, and complex computer known to mankind. Nonetheless, scientists have unraveled a few details that explain the process that we call memory.

人腦無疑是人類認識範圍內最令人驚歎、最神祕複雜的計算機器。儘管如此，科學家已經揭祕記憶工作原理的細節。

By understanding how memory works, you may be able to retain more information in your long term memory. That's where we store the things we learn!

掌握了記憶的工作原理，也許你就能把更多獲得到的信息變成長期記憶。我們通過長期記憶來儲存所學的知識。

Long Term and Short Term

長期記憶和短期記憶

Remembering is really the act of recalling something that we've stored away in our brains.

記憶實際就是回想起我們之前儲存在腦內的信息。

Think of your brain as a storage space with two compartments called long term and short term.

把大腦想成存在兩個存儲區間：長期記憶區間和短期記憶區間。

Obviously, if we store something away in the short-term compartment, we won't be able to keep it very long. It dissolves within seconds if we don't refresh and renew it.

顯然，如果我們把信息儲存在短期記憶區內，我們很快就會忘掉這些信息。如果我們不反覆回憶這些信息，過幾秒後我們就會遺忘。

Short term memory is sometimes called working memory. It involves the process of remembering little tidbits of information that we need as we work through our day. An example of working memory in action is remembering where we place our pencil between working on math problems.

短時記憶有時也被稱作工作記憶，是我們在工作中記住信息的過程。一個例子就是，我們在作數學題的時候可以記得自己把筆放在何處。

You won't really need that information later in the day, so you don't even try to send that sort of information to the long-term bin.

之後這個信息對我們就沒有用處了，所以不用把這種信息變成長期記憶。

When we encounter information that we know we'll need to use later, we try to memorize it by sending it to the long term compartment. Sometimes it stays there, and sometimes it dissolves.

當我們接觸到將來可能還會再用到的信息，我們試着把它儲存在長期記憶區。有時，信息會一直留在長期記憶區，而有時它們也會消失不見。

There are a few ways to make things "stick."

下面是保持記憶的幾種方法。

Committing Things to Long Term Memory

把信息變成長期記憶

There is one fail-safe way to keep memories "fresh" in the long term bin. That method is rehearsing. When you rehearse information over and over, it starts to sink in. Once it sinks in, you can recall it as you need it.

有一種萬無一失的方法幫助我們形成長期記憶。這種方法的實質就是重複回憶。當你不斷地重複某個信息，這個信息就會嵌入你的腦中。一旦如此，今後有需要的話就能隨時想起。

But there's another process that takes place in long term memory that you should be aware of. It's called deletion.

但是，還有一點要注意的是，長期記憶區內也存在另一個過程，這就是遺忘。

New information decays if you ignore it too long.

長時間忽略新信息就會遺忘。

New information dissolves if it becomes bombarded by too much noise and interference.

周遭有太多噪音與干擾也會產生遺忘。

If you wait too long between rehearsal sessions, decay can set in. If you try to memorize information while the TV is on, the interference can cause deletion.

如果兩次重複的時間間隔太長，也會漸漸遺忘。如果你開着電視記憶，這種干擾也會讓記憶效果大打折扣。

The science behind memory and recall leads to several conclusions about memorizing information for school:

記憶背後的科學奧祕對如何學習知識給出了幾條結論。

arsal, which means repetition, makes information sink in.

重複回顧讓信息嵌入腦中。

should not wait until the last day to study.

不要等到最後一天纔開始學習。

should not wait too long between rehearsal (study) sessions.

兩次重複的時間間隔不能太長。

if you study a lot, you will forget some information if you don't review.

就算你學了很多，不復習的話也會忘記。