Latest news with #HermannEbbinghaus
Mint
10-08-2025
- Science
- Mint
Optical illusion: Which orange circle is the bigger one in this brain teaser? 90% of people guess it wrong
Optical illusions have gained popularity on social media, and it has become a go-to brain teaser. Psychologists say optical illusions like this are more than just party tricks. They reveal how our brains process information and highlight cultural differences, and may even inspire training methods to sharpen visual judgment in professional settings. In the latest optical illusion, viewers are shown a picture with two orange circles. Look at it for nine seconds and determine which one is bigger, and over 90 percent chose the wrong option. The viral optical illusion showed two orange circles, and both were surrounded by grey circles, which leaves viewers convinced one is larger in size. Before scrolling down to see the image, close your eyes for five seconds. Once you have opened your eyes, look at the image below for just nine seconds to spot the bigger circle. Did you guess that the orange circle on the right was bigger, like 90 per cent of the population? Well, you are wrong! In reality, both orange circles are identical in size. Then why does one look bigger than the other? The optical illusion, known as the Ebbinghaus illusion, demonstrates how our brain uses context to judge size: objects surrounded by smaller shapes seem larger, while those surrounded by bigger shapes appear smaller. German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus discovered this optical illusion in the 19th century. According to the Conversation report, the human visual system does not just measure what is in front of our eyes; it interprets shapes in relation to their surroundings. Psychologists say the ability helps humans make quick size and distance judgements in everyday life, but it can also lead people astray. Research showed that factors like age, gender, neurodevelopmental conditions, and culture influence how strongly people experience the optical illusion. Until recently, scientists thought there was no way to resist such illusions. However, a study that compared over 100 psychology and medical students to 44 experienced radiologists found otherwise, reported The Conversation. Radiologists, trained to spot anomalies in medical scans while ignoring distractions, were much better at assessing the true sizes in Ebbinghaus-style images. Most non-experts needed an 18% size difference to 'see through' the trick, but radiologists could accurately judge circles with differences as small as 6 to 10%. Interestingly, trainee radiologists did not show this advantage, indicating that the skill develops through years of professional practice. A: Yes, they are identical, the size difference is an illusion caused by surrounding shapes. A: The Ebbinghaus illusion, or Titchener circles. A: Radiologists, people with autism or schizophrenia, and young children. A: Yes, but it requires long-term practice, such as the visual training radiologists undergo.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
5 best study techniques to help kids retain more in less time
Many children today are drowning in homework, tuition, and endless revision sessions. There's a common belief that studying more means learning more. But science says otherwise. In fact, research from educational psychology and cognitive science shows that learning can be made faster, more enjoyable, and longer-lasting with a few smart tweaks. It's not always about the number of hours put in, it's about how those hours are used. Here are 5 study techniques that are not only rooted in real research but also proven to help children remember more in less time. Retrieval practice Studies from cognitive scientists like Dr. Henry Roediger at Washington University show that retrieval practice, the act of recalling information without looking, significantly boosts memory. This means after learning something new, a child should try to recall it without peeking into the textbook. Flashcards, mini quizzes, or even explaining what was just studied to a toy or a sibling can do wonders. It forces the brain to retrieve information, strengthening the memory trace. Spaced repetition A technique known as spaced repetition fights this forgetfulness. Backed by research from Hermann Ebbinghaus , this method spreads revision over several days, allowing the brain to re-encounter the information just before it is about to be forgotten. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo A quick five-minute review on Day 1, followed by the same on Day 3 and Day 6, cements the concept deeply. Interleaving Interleaving is a technique where different types of problems or subjects are mixed during study sessions. For instance, a 30-minute study slot can be divided into 10 minutes of science, 10 of history, and 10 of maths, all rotated in a cycle. This forces the brain to adapt, switch context, and build better connections between ideas. Research shows that interleaving strengthens problem-solving skills and long-term understanding, especially useful in subjects like maths and science. Dual coding According to cognitive psychologist Allan Paivio , dual coding, using both text and visuals together, engages more areas of the brain. For example, when a child learns about the solar system, pairing the definitions with hand-drawn diagrams or videos helps the brain store the data in multiple formats. Even doodling a flowchart or sketching a comic strip from a history lesson can lead to deeper learning. The trick is to see what's being read. The protégé effect This is known as the protégé effect. When children teach what they learn, they pay more attention, organize information more clearly, and retain it longer. Whether it's teaching a younger sibling how multiplication works, or pretending to be a teacher and using a toy classroom setup, the act of teaching transforms passive knowledge into active understanding.
Observer
13-04-2025
- Science
- Observer
Why we forget things – and how to remember better
Have you ever walked into a room and immediately forgotten why you were there? Congratulations! You're human. Memory is the incredible mental filing system that lets us recall birthdays, algebra formulas, and exactly where we left the last piece of cake in the fridge. But it's also frustratingly unreliable. We forget passwords, where we park our cars, and sometimes even people's names five seconds after they introduce themselves. Memory works in three stages: encoding, storage and retrieval. Encoding happens when your brain processes sensory input and decides whether it's worth saving. Storage determines if it stays short-term (like where you left your keys) or long-term (like your childhood best friend's home phone number from 20 years ago). Retrieval is when you try to recall information. Forgetting isn't just an annoyance; it's how the brain stays efficient. Scientists have different theories on why it happens. Decay theory says unused memories fade, like a dusty old treadmill. Interference theory suggests new memories can overwrite old ones, or vice versa, which is why you remember your high school phone number but not your new one. Retrieval-induced forgetting happens when recalling one memory blocks another, like when you can't remember an actor's name but recall all their movies. Cue-dependent forgetting ties memory to context, which is why you recognise a face but forget where you met them. While frustrating, forgetting is just your brain optimising what matters, sometimes a little too aggressively. German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus spent years testing memory to map out the Forgetting Curve, which shows that we forget most information within hours of learning it unless we reinforce it. Modern research builds on this with Bjork's Desirable Difficulties, which proves that making learning harder actually helps memory retention. Basically, if you want to remember something, make it slightly annoying to learn. Think of your hippocampus as the brain's librarian, filing and retrieving memories. Studies on London taxi drivers show that their hippocampus literally grows from all the navigation skills they develop. Meanwhile, age-related forgetting happens because neural connections weaken over time, but research suggests we can stimulate memory by keeping our brains active. Your brain does its best memory magic while you sleep, which is why pulling an all-nighter is like throwing your notes into a blender. A Hong Kong study found that targeted memory reactivation (TMR) during sleep can strengthen or weaken memories. Meanwhile, exercise increases blood flow to the brain, improving recall. And emotions? Well, that's why you remember embarrassing moments from middle school but not what you had for lunch yesterday. Your brain has a flair for the dramatic. Would you really want to remember every single detail of every single day? Forgetting helps you prioritise what matters. AI research on catastrophic forgetting shows that when systems remember everything, they become overwhelmed. Your brain smartly prunes unimportant details so you don't have to. It's a survival feature, not a flaw, so next time you forget someone's name, just say you are optimising brain efficiency. Could science one day help us selectively erase memories, like a real-life 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?' Researchers think so. Techniques like memory reconsolidation disruption and optogenetics (using light to edit memory) suggest that in the future, we might actually be able to erase painful or unnecessary memories. Ethical concerns aside, it's a fascinating field, though it might also mean you would have to set reminders for why you erased something in the first place. If you want to remember more and forget less, work with your brain, not against it. Retrieval practice makes memories stronger, while mnemonic devices help by turning dull facts into memorable images. Exercise and sleep also play a role, boosting blood flow to the brain and consolidating memories. Contextual learning shows that studying in different places improves recall by reducing reliance on a single set of cues. Lastly, managing stress is key; too much cortisol can block memory retrieval, causing those dreaded blank-out moments. So, test yourself, stay active, switch up your environment and get enough rest; your brain will thank you!
