<p>No, it just makes the intervals suboptimal. Either <strong>bury the card</strong> if the opposite side came recently or change the card to the direction it will usually appear. (Sometimes it will be the description first.) The forgetting curve, memorizing right at the periphery, will still go back up: 
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/HsDd0.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/HsDd0.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>There is also the study done by Glenberg Smith &amp; Green about this...</p>

<p>Anki is programmed to deal with similar <a href="https://apps.ankiweb.net/docs/manual.html#siblings-and-burying" rel="nofollow noreferrer">"sibling" cards</a>
The algorithm will <strong>bury them</strong>--except when learning...</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.quora.com/topic/Spaced-Repetition" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.quora.com/topic/Spaced-Repetition</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Anki/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.reddit.com/r/Anki/</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anki.tenderapp.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://anki.tenderapp.com/</a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2016-09-18T19:50:32.127Z
2018-08-04T21:26:20.840Z
2018-08-04T21:26:20.840Z
adamaero
<p>From <a href="http://ankisrs.net/docs/manual.html#reverse-cards" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this spaced repetition type flashcard user manual</a> one can,
"create cards that go in both directions (e.g., both “ookii”→“big” and “big”→“ookii”)."</p>

<p>In other words, would studying two flashcards (both with the same content but in reverse order, lessen the benefits of studying right at the periphery (i.e., spaced repetition)?</p>

<hr>

<p>Here is a related question: <a href="https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/480/are-spaced-flashcards-effective-for-learning">Are spaced flashcards effective for learning?</a></p>

<p>Any comments with relevant studies is welcome--along with help. Feel free to edit or add to any idea to make the question less unclear.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-09T13:28:50.750Z
No need to add to 'welcome comments' and 'edit' notice: that is always implied on Stack Exchange.
Steven Jeuris
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-09T15:08:23.010Z
I don't imply that. There can always be improved diction, etc. (I don't believe your comment is worth commenting.)
adamaero
<memory><long-term-memory><semantic-memory>
Does studying flashcards, both front to back and back to front, decrease retention opposed to only memorizing one way?
adamaero
# Does studying flashcards, both front to back and back to front, decrease retention opposed to only memorizing one way?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-09-08)

From [this spaced repetition type flashcard user manual](http://ankisrs.net/docs/manual.html#reverse-cards) one can,
"create cards that go in both directions (e.g., both “ookii”→“big” and “big”→“ookii”)."

In other words, would studying two flashcards (both with the same content but in reverse order, lessen the benefits of studying right at the periphery (i.e., spaced repetition)?

---

Here is a related question: [Are spaced flashcards effective for learning?](https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/480/are-spaced-flashcards-effective-for-learning)

Any comments with relevant studies is welcome--along with help. Feel free to edit or add to any idea to make the question less unclear.

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

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: No need to add to 'welcome comments' and 'edit' notice: that is always implied on Stack Exchange.  
> **username_0**: I don't imply that. There can always be improved diction, etc. (I don't believe your comment is worth commenting.)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2016-09-18. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

No, it just makes the intervals suboptimal. Either **bury the card** if the opposite side came recently or change the card to the direction it will usually appear. (Sometimes it will be the description first.) The forgetting curve, memorizing right at the periphery, will still go back up:
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/HsDd0.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/HsDd0.png)

There is also the study done by Glenberg Smith & Green about this...

Anki is programmed to deal with similar ["sibling" cards](https://apps.ankiweb.net/docs/manual.html#siblings-and-burying)
The algorithm will **bury them**--except when learning...

* <https://www.quora.com/topic/Spaced-Repetition>
* <https://www.reddit.com/r/Anki/>
* <https://anki.tenderapp.com/>


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