The **Forgetting Curve** is a psychological concept that describes how information is lost over time when there is no attempt to retain it. It was first introduced by [[Hermann Ebbinghaus]], a German psychologist, in the late 19th century. ### Key Points: - The curve shows a **rapid decline** in memory retention shortly after learning something. - Without reinforcement or practice, people tend to forget about **50% of new information within an hour**, **70% within a day**, and up to **90% within a week**. - The shape of the curve is **exponential**, meaning forgetting happens quickly at first and then levels off. ### Visualization: Imagine a graph: - The **x-axis** = time after learning - The **y-axis** = percentage of information retained - The curve starts high and drops steeply, then flattens over time ### Combatting the Forgetting Curve: - **Spaced repetition**: Reviewing the material at increasing intervals - **Active recall**: Testing yourself on the material rather than just rereading - **Meaningful learning**: Connecting new information to existing knowledge