Effective Study
How does the brain save new information? Our memory actually has three components.
Sensory memory takes in information from our five senses and is stored for just a few seconds
while our brain processes it'. Short-term memory works like a holding area" for new information.
But if you can commit something to your long-term memory, you'll be able to remember it again
next week.Thls part of your memory holds everything from irregular verbs to the.names of all
your cousins.
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 connections to
information that we already know. When there are more connections to the new information, it's
easier to find it again. They have discovered four key points for effective studying.
First, 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.
Secound, 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, headings, and illustrations to show you the main ideas.
Third, 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 at' the information to activate the visual part
of the brain.
Lastly, 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.
In conclusion, By understanding how the brain works, and following these four tips, you can
make this your most successful academic year ever.
