Recalling lessons during rest improves learning

Recalling the things that you have already learnt boosts your future learning, found a research.

"We have shown for the first time that how the brain processes information during rest can improve future learning," said Alison Preston, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Texas - Austin in the US.

Until now, many scientists assumed that prior memories are more likely to interfere with new learning. This new study shows that at least in some situations, the opposite is true.

"We think replaying memories during rest makes those earlier memories stronger, not just impacting the original content, but impacting the memories to come," Preston added.

For the study, the researchers gave participants in the study two learning tasks in which participants were asked to memorize different series of associated photo pairs.

Between the tasks, participants rested and could think about anything they chose, but brain scans found that the ones who used that time to reflect on what they had learned earlier in the day fared better in tests pertaining to what they learned later.

This research was conducted with adult participants. The researchers will next study whether a similar dynamic is at work with children.

The study appeared online in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.