Decay Over Time

Definition

Decay over time refers to the idea that memories gradually fade away and become less accessible if they are not retrieved or rehearsed periodically. It suggests that forgetting occurs naturally as a result of time passing without reinforcement.

Related terms

Spacing Effect:

The phenomenon where distributed practice or studying over multiple sessions leads to better long-term retention compared to cramming.

Memory Consolidation:

The process by which memories are stabilized, strengthened, and stored in long-term memory after initial encoding.

Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve: A graphical representation of how forgetting occurs rapidly at first and then levels off over time if the information is not reinforced.