'Memory rehearsal' best way to enhance durability

According to a recent research, rehearsing information immediately after being given it may be all you need to make it a permanent memory.

University of Sussex psychologists found that the same area of the brain activated when laying down a memory is also activated when rehearsing that memory.

The findings have implications for any situation in which accurate recall of an event is critical, such as witnessing an accident or crime.

The study showed that the brain region known as the posterior cingulated, an area whose damage is often seen in those with Alzheimer's, plays a crucial role in creating permanent memories.

This region not only helps us to recall the episodic details of an event but also integrates the memory into our knowledge and understanding, which makes it resistant to forgetting.

Lead researcher Chris Bird said that the findings have implications for any situation where accurate recall of an event is critical, such as witnessing an accident or crime. Memory for the event will be significantly improved if the witness rehearses the sequence of events as soon as possible afterwards.

The study is published in the Journal of Neuroscience.