Your workbench is small, but your long-term memory is enormous. It holds the words you know, the faces of your family, how to ride a bike and the story of your last birthday.
Key idea
Long-term memory is not like a box that fills up. The more you know about a subject, the easier it is to learn more, because each new fact has old facts to connect to.
The real challenge is finding a memory when you need it. A memory with many connections, like a book listed under several subjects in a library catalogue, is easier to find.
Worked example: Worked example
Maya knows a lot about horses. Her brother knows little. Both read the same article about a new horse breed. Who will probably remember more a week later, and why?
- Maya has many old facts to connect the new ones to.
- Connected facts are easier to store and find.
Answer: Maya, because new facts link to what she already knows.
Why it works
This is why building knowledge step by step works: each rung gives the next one something to hold on to.
Common mistake
Cramming new facts with nothing to connect them to. Ask, "What does this remind me of? What do I already know that fits here?"