3 tips on how to study effectively

Medical residents acquire a vast array of skills, operations, and procedures throughout their training that they will eventually apply to save lives. The ability to recall these abilities may literally be the difference between life and death. This was the rationale behind a 2006 study that divided a class of surgical residents learning how to suture arteries into two groups. While all groups were given identical study materials, one group made a slight modification to their approach to learning.

Additionally, this group completed the surgery noticeably better than the other residents when tested a month later. Along with two more really successful study strategies that you may use in and out of the classroom, we'll talk about the key to that group's success. However, before we get into how these techniques function, let's explore how the brain processes and retains information. Assume you are attempting to commit the structure of the heart to memory. Groups of neurons in the hippocampus, a region of the brain, momentarily encode memories when you are first exposed to a new idea. These neurons reactivate as you study the heart's chambers for an exam or continue to learn about the organ's functions in class.

The memory is stabilised by the recurrent firing, which fortifies the connections between the cells. Over time, the neocortex—another region of the brain—is involved in the long-term storage of information on the structure of the heart. Though the exact mechanism is yet unknown, it is believed to occur during sleep and, most importantly, in the intervals between study sessions. Information is transferred from short-term to long-term storage. This is where the new information is combined with relevant ideas you already understand, such the anatomy of other organs or how to calculate heart rate.

Furthermore, the process is not over yet. The long-term memory is subject to change because it is reactivated each time you remember the structure of the heart. It is possible to refresh, reinforce, and recombine the knowledge with new insights. This is where the first method of study comes in. By putting your knowledge to the test through quizzes and flashcards, you may proactively refresh and fortify your memory. Rereading textbooks and underlining notes are two more study strategies that students frequently use.

However, because the knowledge is readily available, these methods may give you a false sense of proficiency. However, self-testing gives you a better idea of what you really know. But what if, in the process, you lose track of the answers? Don't worry, making errors might really help you learn more in the long run. The theory is that while you search your mind for the solution, pertinent bits of information become active. The brain will then be better able to combine this information with what you already know when the right solution is eventually discovered. Our subsequent method expands upon the initial one. It's best to use a variety of subjects on your flashcard deck when studying. Instead of practising one skill or topic at a time, interleaving, or combining the topics you focus on in a single session, might improve retention.

One theory as to why this works is that, as to testing, switching between subjects compels your brain to briefly forget stuff before retrieving it, thereby fortifying memory. It is possible to identify similarities and contrasts between the themes. Our last study tip relates to when, now that you know what and how to study. You can get some relaxation and sleep in between review sessions if you spread them out across several days. The neocortex is where the brain stores and integrates knowledge when it is "offline." Thus, even though studying the night before the test might make sense because the information will still be fresh in your memory, it won't last. We return to our medical residents now. For the same period of time, both groups studied the surgery.

However, the more successful group's training was carried out over four weeks, whereas the training of the other group was compressed into a single day. Because they were created with the brain in mind, all three of these study methods are effective. The amazing way the brain processes and stores the vast amount of information it is exposed to on a daily basis is complemented and reinforced by them.