The human brain is arguably the most amazing, mysterious, and complex computer known to mankind. Nonetheless, scientists have unraveled a few details that explain the process that we call memory.

人脑无疑是人类认识范围内最令人惊叹、最神秘复杂的计算机器。尽管如此，科学家已经揭秘记忆工作原理的细节。

By understanding how memory works, you may be able to retain more information in your long term memory. That's where we store the things we learn!

掌握了记忆的工作原理，也许你就能把更多获得到的信息变成长期记忆。我们通过长期记忆来储存所学的知识。

Long Term and Short Term

长期记忆和短期记忆

Remembering is really the act of recalling something that we've stored away in our brains.

记忆实际就是回想起我们之前储存在脑内的信息。

Think of your brain as a storage space with two compartments² called long term and short term.

把大脑想成存在两个存储区间：长期记忆区间和短期记忆区间。

Obviously, if we store something away in the short-term compartment¹, we won't be able to keep it very long. It dissolves within seconds if we don't refresh and renew it.

显然，如果我们把信息储存在短期记忆区内，我们很快就会忘掉这些信息。如果我们不反复回忆这些信息，过几秒后我们就会遗忘。

Short term memory is sometimes called working memory. It involves the process of remembering little tidbits of information that we need as we work through our day. An example of working memory in action is remembering where we place our pencil between working on math problems.

短时记忆有时也被称作工作记忆，是我们在工作中记住信息的过程。一个例子就是，我们在作数学题的时候可以记得自己把笔放在何处。

You won't really need that information later in the day, so you don't even try to send that sort of information to the long-term bin³.

之后这个信息对我们就没有用处了，所以不用把这种信息变成长期记忆。

When we encounter information that we know we'll need to use later, we try to memorize it by sending it to the long term compartment. Sometimes it stays there, and sometimes it dissolves.

当我们接触到将来可能还会再用到的信息，我们试着把它储存在长期记忆区。有时，信息会一直留在长期记忆区，而有时它们也会消失不见。

There are a few ways to make things "stick."

下面是保持记忆的几种方法。

Committing Things to Long Term Memory

把信息变成长期记忆

There is one fail-safe way to keep memories "fresh" in the long term bin. That method is rehearsing. When you rehearse information over and over, it starts to sink in. Once it sinks in, you can recall it as you need it.

有一种万无一失的方法帮助我们形成长期记忆。这种方法的实质就是重复回忆。当你不断地重复某个信息，这个信息就会嵌入你的脑中。一旦如此，今后有需要的话就能随时想起。

But there's another process that takes place in long term memory that you should be aware of. It's called deletion.

但是，还有一点要注意的是，长期记忆区内也存在另一个过程，这就是遗忘。

New information decays if you ignore it too long.

长时间忽略新信息就会遗忘。

New information dissolves if it becomes bombarded by too much noise and interference.

周遭有太多噪音与干扰也会产生遗忘。

If you wait too long between rehearsal⁴ sessions, decay can set in. If you try to memorize information while the TV is on, the interference can cause deletion.

如果两次重复的时间间隔太长，也会渐渐遗忘。如果你开着电视记忆，这种干扰也会让记忆效果大打折扣。

The science behind memory and recall leads to several conclusions about memorizing information for school:

记忆背后的科学奥秘对如何学习知识给出了几条结论。

1.Rehearsal, which means repetition, makes information sink in.

1.重复回顾让信息嵌入脑中。

2.You should not wait until the last day to study.

2.不要等到最后一天才开始学习。

3.You should not wait too long between rehearsal (study) sessions.

3.两次重复的时间间隔不能太长。

4.Even if you study a lot, you will forget some information if you don't review.

4.就算你学了很多，不复习的话也会忘记。