How I Fixed My Terrible Memory (when active recall doesn't work)
Summary
TLDRThis video script addresses common study struggles, emphasizing the importance of active recall and effortful learning to improve retention. The speaker shares personal experiences and strategies, such as creating mind maps and revisiting foundational concepts when struggling with memorization. They caution against passive studying methods like flashcard cramming and advocate for novel learning techniques to enhance memory formation.
Takeaways
- 📚 Active recall is essential for effective learning, and it requires effortful studying to strengthen neural connections in the brain.
- 🔄 To improve memory retention, it's important to avoid passive studying and instead engage in active learning techniques.
- 🚫 Common mistakes in studying include quickly flipping through flashcards without deeply engaging with the material.
- 🔑 Active recall involves spending time on each question, thinking critically about the answer and the context of the topic.
- 🔄 If information isn't sticking, it might be due to a lack of novelty in the learning approach; trying new methods can help.
- 🧠 The hippocampus is responsible for collecting memories, and novel experiences trigger dopamine release, aiding memory formation.
- 🗺️ When struggling with a topic, creating a mind map from the foundational level can help build a comprehensive understanding.
- 🔄 After getting a question wrong, revisiting the basics and working back up can reinforce learning and memory.
- 📝 Listing out all related concepts and creating a mental model or mind map can provide a structured approach to learning.
- 🔑 Mind maps help in categorizing and linking new information to existing knowledge, making it easier to remember.
- 🚫 Avoid the trap of just reading the correct answer briefly; instead, engage with the material in a way that promotes deeper understanding.
Q & A
What is the main issue the speaker is addressing in the script?
-The speaker is addressing the issue of ineffective studying methods that do not lead to long-term retention of information.
What does the speaker suggest is the key to effective learning?
-The speaker suggests that the key to effective learning is active recall and putting effort into understanding and remembering the material.
Why does the speaker believe that simply reading through flashcards is not effective?
-The speaker believes that simply reading through flashcards is not effective because it lacks the effortful process of active recall, which is necessary for strengthening neural connections and long-term memory.
What is the speaker's opinion on the importance of effortful studying?
-The speaker emphasizes that effortful studying, such as active recall and creating mind maps, is crucial for better understanding and long-term retention of information.
What is the role of novelty in learning according to the script?
-According to the script, novelty plays a significant role in learning as it triggers the release of dopamine in the hippocampus, which enhances memory formation.
Why does the speaker recommend creating a mind map when studying?
-The speaker recommends creating a mind map to build a foundational understanding of a topic and to link concepts together in a meaningful way, which aids in long-term retention.
What should one do if they get a question wrong or can't remember it properly?
-If one gets a question wrong or can't remember it, they should go back to the basics, list out all related concepts, and create a mind map to establish a mental model of the topic.
What is the speaker's strategy for dealing with topics that are difficult to remember?
-The speaker's strategy involves creating a comprehensive mind map for difficult topics, ensuring that all concepts are linked and categorized in a way that can be easily recalled.
How does the speaker describe the process of learning from mistakes in studying?
-The speaker describes the process of learning from mistakes as revisiting the material in a new or different way, such as using a new technique or resource, and creating a mind map to reinforce understanding.
What is the significance of the hippocampus in memory formation as mentioned in the script?
-The hippocampus is significant in memory formation as it is the region of the brain where memories are collected, and novel learning experiences can trigger dopamine release, enhancing memory retention.
Why does the speaker argue against simply reading the correct answer after getting a question wrong?
-The speaker argues against this because it does not involve the effortful process of learning and understanding; it is a passive approach that does not lead to long-term retention of information.
Outlines
📚 Overcoming Passive Study Habits
The speaker discusses the ineffectiveness of passive studying methods, such as mindlessly going through flashcards without truly engaging with the material. They emphasize the importance of active recall and effortful studying to strengthen neural connections. The speaker admits to previously using ineffective cramming techniques but has since adopted a more effective approach, which includes creating mind maps and actively linking concepts. They suggest that if information isn't 'sticking,' it's likely due to a lack of active recall and recommend spending more time on each question to think critically and establish connections with known information.
🧠 Enhancing Memory Through Novelty and Mind Maps
The second paragraph delves into the concept of memory formation in the hippocampus and the role of novelty in enhancing memory retention. The speaker suggests that when studying, incorporating new methods or resources can help with remembering information better. They share a personal strategy of revisiting the foundational concepts of a topic when faced with difficulties, using mind maps to create a comprehensive mental model. This approach involves listing all related concepts and visually organizing them, which not only aids in understanding the specific issue at hand but also builds a strong base for future learning. The speaker contrasts this method with the ineffectiveness of briefly reviewing correct answers after making mistakes, advocating for a more integrated and holistic learning experience.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Active Recall
💡Effortful Learning
💡Mind Map
💡Novelty
💡Hippocampus
💡Pattern Recognition
💡Foundational Level
💡Memory Boosting
💡Categorization
💡Mental Model
💡Effortful Process
Highlights
The importance of active recall in studying and its impact on memory retention.
The ineffectiveness of passively studying and the need for effortful learning.
The common mistake of 'spamming' through flashcards without truly engaging with the material.
The benefits of creating mind maps for a deeper understanding and better memory retention.
The need to spend time with each question during active recall to strengthen neural connections.
The misconception that simply reading the correct answer after failing to recall is effective.
The role of novelty in learning and how it can enhance memory formation.
The recommendation to revisit the foundational concepts of a topic when struggling to remember.
The process of creating a mental model using a mind map to categorize and link concepts.
The practical steps to take when getting a question wrong, including listing concepts and creating a mind map.
The advantage of having a mental structure for new information, making it easier to remember.
The comparison between the temporary retention from pattern recognition versus the lasting memory from active learning.
The personal experience of the speaker in transitioning from a 'nerd' studying 24/7 to a more efficient learner.
The speaker's confession of making common studying mistakes and the realization of their impact.
The advice against creating mind maps for every detail but rather for important and frequently tested topics.
The speaker's encouragement to share study difficulties in the comments for further guidance.
The upcoming guides and videos promised by the speaker to address common study issues.
Transcripts
saying I'm studying but nothing I'm
doing is working nothing I'm learning is
clicking and regardless I've never been
able to remember anything anyways what's
the point I can't do what you do firstly
I didn't know how to do anything a few
years ago I was a huge nerd and all I
did was study 24/7 now I only study a
couple hours a week and I bump it up for
the exams and I'm killing it how because
I fix the way I remember things I'll
explain everything in this video but
listen if nothing is actually sticking
in your head when you're studying I 100%
know that you aren't doing the active
recall you're not doing some part of the
studying in the right ways yes testing
yourself is hard it's effort it's tiring
and that is the point you've probably
heard all of this before really working
hard to force the knowledge out of your
head when you're studying testing
yourself in a way that is effortful all
of it strengthens the connections in
your brain right but what do you
actually end up doing because in theory
when you watch these videos all of this
effective learning stuff is lovely it
makes perfect sense but in practice how
are you answering each and every
question how are you learning from your
mistakes in order to remember better the
next time because I 100% know that you
are messing up in one of two ways number
one you're just spamming through the
flash cards the question spending 3
seconds if that thinking about the
question thinking about an answer and
then just flicking to it I know you're
doing this and the reason I know that
you're doing this is because I'm guilty
of the same crap 95% of the medic
friends I have that I watch study every
day are guilty of the same crap we just
have this bug in our head that we have
to just get through content cram it in
do 400 Ane cards today 500 po medicine
questions and yeah something probably
will stick but it won't be from actual
learning it'll be from pattern
recognition because you've seen the same
thing so many times so many times over
and over again that it eventually your
mind will get used to that information
and you won't remember nor understand it
even a few days from now honestly
speaking my exams were like 20 days ago
and the topics that I just did Brute
Force questioning on that I just did
practice questions on again and again I
barely remember anything about them
whereas the stuff I took a little bit of
extra effort onto doing I scoped them
properly I created a way to link
everything by creating a mind map I did
their questions properly those I
honestly remember almost perfectly and
because I put more effort into active
learning for them because I didn't just
Spam through questions I ended up
learning them in way less hours much
more effectively than the topics I was
just spamming the questions on anyways
I'll go through that all properly but
the first action point is to take time
with the recall and put effort into each
and every question even if you don't
remember it well the act of just sitting
there and spending time thinking okay
what could the answer be what is the
wider context of the topic what can I
remember is there a way I can work
backwards somehow or connect it to
something that I know can I think
critically about what this question
means how can I somehow get even a sver
of the correct answer that effortful
process is what will help you in the
long run of remembering the content now
the second mistake that you're making
that I actually think is much bigger
than the first one is this when you're
doing questions testing yourself trying
to remember the answer nothing is
sticking what do you do because I'm
betting what most of you do is just read
the correct answer for 2 minutes and
boom move on and you know that sucks you
know that doesn't work you are doing
well while testing yourself but if you
can't remember the knowledge stop being
lazy you need to study the material in a
new way in a different way that allows
you to remember it better for the next
time we collect memories in a region of
the brain called the hippocampus which
is deep in the temporal lope and when
you learn something in a novel New Way
naturally occurring dopamine is released
in there which in turn creates memory
boosting effects which makes sense right
the majority of your memories are not
the monotonous same 9 to 5 week in
School uni work your most memorable
moments are the new and novel
experiences so replicate that idea into
your studying when you're not able to
remember what you learn one way to
remember it better is to add some
novelty to learn it in a new way now
what this means practically is learning
the topic using a new technique or a new
resource for example watching a video or
teaching it to a friend or whatever but
what's most effective what I do most
often when I'm reflecting back on how
I've been learning things and I think
this is better than just learning it
using a new technique or something is
that when you get a question wrong when
you can't remember read properly you go
back to the basics the like the Baseline
most foundational level of the topics
and work back up from the ground up and
what this practically means is going
back to the topic looking at it from a
big picture and creating a mental model
of it using a mind map and the way you
do this the action step if you get a
question wrong if you can't remember it
properly is to number one list out each
and every concept not just to do with
that specific question that you got
wrong or didn't remember properly every
concept related to that whole topic and
number two think about a unique way that
you can link every everything you can
categorize everything and put it on a
mind map trust me even though I know
this will take up to 30 minutes it will
take time especially if you're a
beginner once you do it for a full topic
you are building a base for it for every
question that you will now encounter you
are not only just learning the basics of
this one concept that you just
encountered in this question you are
learning the basics of every concept
that can come up just think about the
amount of time that saves by the way
I've made videos on how I create these
mind maps I can link live ones up here
check them out but for me for example if
I ever get a question on some upper GI
disease to do with esophagus for example
in my head I know I split them up into
the ones with swelling problems
dysphasia and the ones with leading
problems and then I further structure
them into the structure and then the
intensity so now any new fact you throw
at me about any of the 89 conditions
that I've learned to do with the upper
GI tract or even if you give me new
conditions anything you give to me I
will be able to fit somewhere on my mind
map that is in my head is I drew it on
paper yes but it is in my head when I'm
learning new things right because what I
spent like 40 minutes creating a
baseline for all of these conditions
what 4 weeks ago but because that base
is there even if that mind map was crap
even if it wasn't perfect of course I
can go and fix it and change it later on
but because I've laid That Base there
because even if the Mind map isn't
perfect in my head even if there was
full of mistakes because I've built the
basic structure whenever I learned
anything new I can go back to it in my
head and put it somewhere on that my map
I can keep on creating new categories
different ways to remember which
investigations are for which diseases or
whatever I'm trying to learn now I will
for ever be able to add to this mind map
I have something to link all the new
knowledge that I'm learning to and put
it in my head in comparison if I just
spent 2 minutes reading through the
answer to some question that I about
something that I don't even know
something I got wrong something I didn't
understand properly and I spent 2
minutes reading it and then 5 minutes
later I forget it what is the point what
am I gaining from it where is it going
in my head how am I changing anything
about how I'm understanding this now
obviously be sensible don't just start
creating mind maps and putting all this
effort in for random details that for
Niche questions but if it's a big topic
if you keep getting the questions wrong
if you aren't able to remember or
understand a very important topic
properly this is the solution I just
wanted to make a quick video on this
because even I make these mistakes I've
seen so many people make the people my
comments have been i' I've had six
comments this week asking me oh I'm
doing active recall and I can't get it
to stick nothing is sticking nothing is
clicking firstly make sure you're
actually testing yourself properly in
the first place and second build a basic
Foundation of all the concepts in that
topic by creating a mind map have
everything Link in your head and then
attack it with active recall you'll do
way better that way and remember it for
way longer anyways guys I hope your
exams are going well drop any
difficulties you've been having while
studying in the comments I will make a
video with you have a lot of people
comment me the same stuff a lot of
people commented and messaged me this
week about creating a video like this
and I did it it was a quick video for me
this is easy I have huge guides and
videos coming out this month but if you
have any issues spam them in the
comments this is where you get the
solutions leave a like subscribe to the
channel do the usual stuff and I will
see you in the next one peace
Ver Más Videos Relacionados
Learn How to Study ONCE And Remember Forever
How to ACE your A-LEVELS (100% will improve your grades) + how i got a*a*a*
How to Study Once and Remember Forever
Gimana Cara Belajar Paling Efektif? (Active Recall)
9 Study Techniques that got me through Cambridge Medical School *science-backed*
Rotina de estudos: a melhor estratégia da neurociência
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)