Hermann Ebbinghaus

Hermann Ebbinghaus ran the first quantitative memory experiments in 1885 on himself using nonsense syllables, well before cognitive science had a name.

• Forgetting curve: memory loss is steep in the first hours and flattens after, most of what you forget, you forget fast
• Spacing effect: distributed practice beats massed practice for long-term retention

Related

• Active Recall
• Spaced Repetition