Chapter 1
The neural construction zone
Chapter 2
Tuning your ears to the world
Chapter 3
The science of micro-habits
Chapter 4
The bilingual superpower
Ch 3 · The science of micro-habits
duolingo Testing himself with nonsense syllables like WID and ZOF revealed exponential memory decay, explaining why cramming is highly ineffective.
Quiz
What type of words did Hermann Ebbinghaus invent to study pure memory decay without prior emotional associations?
Quiz
Which German psychologist first mapped the exponential decay of human memory in 1885?
duolingo Spaced repetition helps you memorize thousands of foreign words in minutes daily.
Quiz
How does spaced repetition affect the shape of the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve over time?
Quiz
What is the primary benefit of using a spaced repetition system to study foreign vocabulary?
Fun Fact
Memory decay: Without review, you will forget roughly fifty percent of any new vocabulary lesson within the first hour of learning it.
Quiz
Which brain structure acts as temporary storage during the day and transfers language memories to the neocortex during sleep?
Quiz
Research from the University of York demonstrated that which daily activity is essential for cementing new vocabulary into long-term memory?
Glossary
micro-habit (noun)
A small, easily performed action or behavior that is repeated consistently to establish a larger routine. Stanford researcher B.J. Fogg demonstrated how tiny daily routines bypass the brain's natural resistance to change.
A small, easily performed action or behavior that is repeated consistently to establish a larger routine. Stanford researcher B.J. Fogg demonstrated how tiny daily routines bypass the brain's natural resistance to change.
duolingo Active Recall
Don't just read the words and hope they stay, Pull them from your mind to build a stronger pathway.
Quiz
Why is using flashcards or practice quizzes considered an excellent form of active recall?
Quiz
What cognitive trap occurs when a student rereads a vocabulary list and mistakes recognition for actual recall?