<h3>The forgetting function</h3>

<p>In <a href="https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/a/3666/52">this answer about the relationship between time and recall</a> I discussed how research shows that the relationship is often characterised by a three parameter power or exponential function. The basic idea is that the recall is a monotonically decreasing and decelerating function of time since the event. </p>

<h3>Forgetting as adaptive behavior</h3>

<p>In general, I think that this is an adaptive feature of human memory. More recent events or more frequently recalled events are more likely to be useful to daily functioning. </p>

<p>Many theories (e.g. <a href="http://act-r.psy.cmu.edu/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">ACT-R</a>) of cognition assume that cognitive activities come at a cost. Thus, storing information comes at a cost at some neural-biological level. Likewise, storing more information is likely to increase the time of access to that information. In both cases, forgetting more distant information is likely to be adaptive in some sense.</p>

<h3>Remembering more</h3>

<p>There are wide range of strategies for better recalling information. However, presumably you are not wanting recall all events and all information, but rather information relative to achieving some goal.</p>

<p>Some general strategies:</p>

<ul>
<li>rehearsal of the information; or just using the information in some meaningful way</li>
<li>cognitive elaboration of the information (e.g., exploring relations, adding meaning, giving structure to the information)</li>
</ul>

<p>One option, of course, is to externalise your memory such as by writing things down, or recording information in some other way.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-04T03:53:43.890Z
2013-12-04T03:53:43.890Z
2017-04-13T12:56:16.167Z
Jeromy Anglim
<p>When I try to recall details for the past few days, I can recall today's events well, yesterday's events less well, and when it comes to the day before, things start to be fuzzy
and this is as fuzzy as I have carried out activities for this period.</p>

<p>In very simple words, is there a study for the threshold beyond which we start to forget things (so,the question is"when") and how can one recall more events from the past, as this can be helpful for all of us and especially students(so, the question is "how")?</p>

<memory><long-term-memory>
What is the typical relationship between time and remembering details of events from the past?
jihed gasmi
# What is the typical relationship between time and remembering details of events from the past?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-10-30)

When I try to recall details for the past few days, I can recall today's events well, yesterday's events less well, and when it comes to the day before, things start to be fuzzy
and this is as fuzzy as I have carried out activities for this period.

In very simple words, is there a study for the threshold beyond which we start to forget things (so,the question is"when") and how can one recall more events from the past, as this can be helpful for all of us and especially students(so, the question is "how")?

**Tags:** memory, long-term-memory


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-12-04. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

### The forgetting function

In [this answer about the relationship between time and recall](https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/a/3666/52) I discussed how research shows that the relationship is often characterised by a three parameter power or exponential function. The basic idea is that the recall is a monotonically decreasing and decelerating function of time since the event.

### Forgetting as adaptive behavior

In general, I think that this is an adaptive feature of human memory. More recent events or more frequently recalled events are more likely to be useful to daily functioning.

Many theories (e.g. [ACT-R](http://act-r.psy.cmu.edu/)) of cognition assume that cognitive activities come at a cost. Thus, storing information comes at a cost at some neural-biological level. Likewise, storing more information is likely to increase the time of access to that information. In both cases, forgetting more distant information is likely to be adaptive in some sense.

### Remembering more

There are wide range of strategies for better recalling information. However, presumably you are not wanting recall all events and all information, but rather information relative to achieving some goal.

Some general strategies:

* rehearsal of the information; or just using the information in some meaningful way
* cognitive elaboration of the information (e.g., exploring relations, adding meaning, giving structure to the information)

One option, of course, is to externalise your memory such as by writing things down, or recording information in some other way.


---

