Our Research

MemoryLab is based on research in the field of learning and memory. Decades of this research have demonstrated that retrieval practice adapted to one’s individual pace can significantly boost learning efficiency.

How it works

Testing effect

Testing yourself has been found to be more effective for long-term remembering than reading or note-taking. When you successfully retrieve an answer from memory, the memory representation of that knowledge becomes stronger, and forgetting slows down.

Spacing effect

MemoryLab promotes spaced repetition by repeating items at intervals that make retrieval challenging but achievable. Our model helps learners achieve better long-term retention by encouraging them to space learning sessions over multiple days. This is known as the spacing effect, where spreading learning over several sessions improves learning.

Speed of forgetting

Answering a question correctly does not mean that you will remember the answer forever. Some answers have weaker memory representations and are more difficult to remember. These answers have a slower response time and are forgotten at a higher speed.

MemoryLab analyses learners’ response time and answer accuracy to calculate the speed at which this answer will be forgotten. If this speed of forgetting becomes very high for an item of knowledge, our system will prioritise practicing the item again.

Higher accuracy

In one research study we compared MemoryLab to a flashcard method and observed that participants who studied with our model were approximately 10% more likely to give a correct answer during the study session. MemoryLab’s efficiency extends to learning with images and text prompts, and typing and voice input.

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What other have to say about us

PhD. Thomas Wilschut

Researcher Cognitive Science

“Personalised learning systems aim adapt to the needs of individual students, making sure no one is left behind. A major challenge lies in the fact that much of the research on learning and memory in Cognitive Psychology, is based on averages of typical students. At MemoryLab, one of the key research goals is to assess and increase the benefits our system in typical and neurodiverse learners.”

PhD. Katja Mehlhorn

Lecturer & Coordinator Department of AI

“What I really like about MemoryLab is that there’s that theory behind it. Everyone can of course come up with something random that might work better for learning, but in this case it’s really behind it: how does memory work.”

prof dr. Hedderik van Rijn

Professor

“The problem with traditional learning methods is that they constantly rehearse everything, even the facts that you already know well. You don’t learn much from that. The crux lies in repeating facts at the right time that we can’t just call up. That’s why you learn from it. And that’s exactly what MemoryLab does.”