Rehearsal Rate
Optimizing memory consolidation by modulating the repeat intervals over time.
Over a century of research has shown that newly formed memories logarithmically fade out over time.
To try to diminish this effect, the learner needs to go through repetitions and rehearsals over time to reconsolidate the memory in the nervous system and transform it into a long-term memory.
The research suggests that optimal memory consolidation can only be achieved if the learner goes through repetitions with intervals that increase over time.
For instance, after memorizing a set of new words, the learner should go through the first repetition after a day, 2nd repetition after a week, 3rd repetition after 2-3 weeks, and so on.
The schematics of a logarithmically decaying memory and its recovery to the ceiling level after each repetition. Note that the delay between each two repetition increases over time.
Ebbinghaus, H. (1964). Memory: A contribution to experimental psychology (H. Ruger, C. E.Bussenius, & E. R. Hilgard, Trans.)New York: Dover Publications, Inc. (Original work published in 1885)
Cepeda, N. J., Coburn, N., Rohrer, D., Wixted, J. T., Mozer, M. C., & Pashler, H. (2009). Optimizing Distributed Practice. Exp. Psychol. https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/abs/10.1027/1618-3169.56.4.236