First described by psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus, the forgetting curve demonstrates that we lose a significant amount of newly learned information within hours or days unless we take steps to retain it. This isn't a personal failing; it's a natural brain function. The good news is that we can actively fight this curve.
Interactive Lab: Flatten Your Forgetting Curve
The key to long-term retention is **Spaced Repetition**—reviewing information at strategic intervals. Use the controls below to set your own review schedule and watch how it impacts your ability to remember over a 30-day period.
Set Your Review Days
Enter the days you plan to review the material (e.g., 1, 3, 7, 14).
As you can see, each review session "boosts" your memory back up, and the rate of forgetting becomes shallower over time. This is why consistent, spaced-out review is far more effective than a single, intensive cramming session. By strategically telling your brain that this information is important, you are actively moving it from short-term to durable, long-term memory.