Studying flashcards with neural replay

How to use Neural Replay to memorize flashcards faster

What is neural replay?

Neural replay is a process in the brain during sleep involving the reactivation of neural activity that was present during a recent learning experience. This "replay" occurs during certain stages of sleep and is thought to play a role in the storage and formation of new memories.

New results and what they mean for flashcard memorization

In the recent study we mentioned, researchers showed a 10X increase in subjects' ability to learn keyboard typing by taking short 10-second breaks after around every 30 seconds of practicing.

During the 10-second breaks, subjects were directed to do absolutely nothing.

The researchers found that during these 10-second breaks, the subjects' brains were replaying the learning repetitions they had just been doing for the past 30 seconds, doing what can be thought of as "simulated repetitions."

This meant that subjects were tapping into neural replay while awake and during their learning session. The same neural replay that was previously only thought to occur during sleep.

How can you use this to best memorize new vocabulary faster?

Taking random 10-second breaks when studying new vocabulary, such as when studying flashcards or doing listen-and-repeat exercises, will allow your brain to replay those repetitions you just completed.

By taking these short breaks, you're taking advantage of proven memory techniques to improve your language learning ability. You're giving your brain the chance to do the same thing it usually does during sleep and simulate doing many more repetitions of the flashcard or exercise than you could normally do, which will help you memorize the words faster.