--- title: Memory & Learning description: This topic explores how the brain acquires, stores, and retrieves information. You will understand the differences between short-term and long-term memory, the neurological mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, and evidence-based strategies that optimize cognitive retention and skill acquisition. category: social-sciences subcategory: cognitive-science difficulty: beginner, intermediate, advanced url: /subject/memory-and-learning --- # Memory & Learning This topic explores how the brain acquires, stores, and retrieves information. You will understand the differences between short-term and long-term memory, the neurological mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, and evidence-based strategies that optimize cognitive retention and skill acquisition. ## Available Resources 3 Books • 3 Courses • 4 Websites ## Websites ### 1. Supermemo The original spaced-repetition program, developed by Piotr Wozniak since 1987 and still shipping the SM-18 algorithm. Using it shows how review intervals are computed from recall difficulty, and how incremental reading feeds new material into that schedule. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://www.supermemo.com/en/ **Tags:** spaced-repetition, memory, flashcards, incremental-reading, learning-software ### 2. AnkiWeb Anki is an open-source flashcard program that schedules each card's next review using a spaced-repetition algorithm, with desktop, mobile, and web sync. Setting up decks teaches you to phrase prompts that actually test recall. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://apps.ankiweb.net/ **Tags:** spaced-repetition, flashcards, memory, anki, study-tools ### 3. learningscientists.org The Learning Scientists translates cognitive psychology on memory and learning into practical strategies for students and teachers. It offers accessible explanations and free resources—blog posts, podcasts, and printable activities—covering retrieval practice, spaced practice, interleaving, elaboration, and metacognition. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://learningscientists.org **Tags:** websites, humanities-social-sciences, cognitive-science ### 4. gwern.net/spaced-repetition Gwern.net’s Spaced Repetition is a thorough guide and reference on memory optimization through spaced repetition. It gathers essays, research references, and practical guidance on scheduling algorithms and tools (e.g., SM-2, Leitner, Anki, SuperMemo) to improve long-term retention. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://gwern.net/spaced-repetition **Tags:** websites, humanities-social-sciences, cognitive-science ## Courses ### 1. Model Thinking We live in a complex world with diverse people, firms, and governments whose behaviors aggregate to produce novel, unexpected phenomena. We see political uprisings, market crashes, and a never ending array of social trends. How do we make sense of it? Models. Evidence shows that people who think with models consistently outperform those who don't. And, moreover people who think with lots of models outperform people who use only one. Why do models make us better thinkers? Models help us to better organize information - to make sense of that fire hose or hairball of data (choose your metaphor) available on the Internet. Models improve our abilities to make accurate forecasts. They help us make better decisions and adopt more effective strategies. They even can improve our ability to design institutions and procedures. In this class, I present a starter kit of models: I start with models of tipping points. I move on to cover models explain the wisdom of crowds, models that show why some countries are rich and some are poor, and models that help unpack the strategic decisions of firm and politicians. The models covered in this class provide a foundation for future social science classes, whether they be in economics, political science, business, or sociology. Mastering this material will give you a huge leg up in advanced courses. They also help you in life. Here's how the course will work. For each model, I present a short, easily digestible overview lecture. Then, I'll dig deeper. I'll go into the technical details of the model. Those technical lectures won't require calculus but be prepared for some algebra. For all the lectures, I'll offer some questions and we'll have quizzes and even a final exam. If you decide to do the deep dive, and take all the quizzes and the exam, you'll receive a Course Certificate. If you just decide to follow along for the introductory lectures to gain some exposure that's fine too. It's all free. And it's all here to help make you a better thinker! **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://www.coursera.org/learn/model-thinking **Tags:** mental-models, complexity, social-science, modeling, decision-making ### 2. Learning How to Learn This course gives you easy access to the invaluable learning techniques used by experts in art, music, literature, math, science, sports, and many other disciplines. We’ll learn about how the brain uses two very different learning modes and how it encapsulates (“chunks”) information. We’ll also cover illusions of learning, memory techniques, dealing with procrastination, and best practices shown by research to be most effective in helping you master tough subjects. Using these approaches, no matter what your skill levels in topics you would like to master, you can change your thinking and change your life. If you’re already an expert, this peep under the mental hood will give you ideas for turbocharging successful learning, including counter-intuitive test-taking tips and insights that will help you make the best use of your time on homework and problem sets. If you’re struggling, you’ll see a structured treasure trove of practical techniques that walk you through what you need to do to get on track. If you’ve ever wanted to become better at anything, this course will help serve as your guide. This course can be taken independent of, concurrent with, or prior to, its companion course, Mindshift. (Learning How to Learn is more learning-focused, and Mindshift is more career-focused.) A related course by the same instructors is Uncommon Sense Teaching. To join the fully translated Portuguese version of the course, visit: https://www.coursera.org/learn/aprender To join the fully translated Spanish version of the course, visit: https://www.coursera.org/learn/aprendiendo-a-aprender To join the fully translated Chinese version of the course, visit: https://www.coursera.org/learn/ruhe-xuexi To join the fully translated French version of the course, visit : http://www.coursera.org/learn/apprendre-comment-apprendre **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn **Tags:** learning-techniques, memory, metacognition, procrastination, study-skills ### 3. Learning How to Learn Barbara Oakley and Terrence Sejnowski explain focused and diffuse thinking, procrastination, sleep, and memory techniques across three short modules. Students come away able to apply recall practice, chunking, and memory palaces to their own homework and exams. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn-youth **Tags:** courses, humanities-social-sciences, cognitive-science ## Books ### 1. Make It Stick **Author:** Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, Mark A. McDaniel Cognitive psychologists present research on retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and interleaving, showing why rereading and highlighting fail. Readers finish able to design study routines that use effortful recall and desirable difficulty to build durable knowledge. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid **Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/0674296036?tag=edmonddante07-20 **Tags:** books, humanities-social-sciences, cognitive-science ### 2. Memory **Author:** Alan Baddeley Baddeley's textbook surveys working memory, long-term storage, forgetting, and amnesia, pairing laboratory evidence with clinical cases. Readers gain a working command of the multi-component model and the experimental methods used to test memory theories. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid **Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/0863774318?tag=edmonddante07-20 **Tags:** books, humanities-social-sciences, cognitive-science ### 3. How We Learn **Author:** Benedict Carey A science journalist reviews memory research on spacing, interleaving, sleep, and testing, arguing that varied contexts and interruptions aid retention. Readers finish with practical study habits grounded in the experiments that produced them. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid **Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/0812984293?tag=edmonddante07-20 **Tags:** books, humanities-social-sciences, cognitive-science --- *This content is part of Dantes.io - Your Treasure Map to Knowledge* *Curated by humans at Dantes.io. Personal study use welcome; republishing this curation requires permission (team@dantes.io).* View this page online: https://dantes.io/subject/memory-and-learning