MLKQuote: Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.

Retention means being able to easily access the information later. To do that, one wants to have that information in a neural network that is robust and well indexed. To do that, one needs to ensure the following during learning and after:

1) Repetition
2) Connection of new information to old information

When we repeatedly think about something, the related neurons grow tentaclelike structures called dendrites that reach out to connect to other neurons. If we continue to think about that item, those dendrites can acquire redundant dendrites that grow alongside them, and the receptor sites on those dendrites can acquire greater throughput.

We can analogize this to a road system. If we build six-lane highways to a destination, it’s easier and faster to get there than if we have dirt trails.

Our brain organizes the information it acquires and continues to reorganize to optimize storage and recovery of that information. By connecting new information to older information, we make it easier to find that information later.

We can analogize that to having a road map. If we have a map, it’s easier to get there than if we don’t—or remembering that the new shoe store is next door to the old bookstore that we’ve repeatedly visited.

We rarely lose information within our brain; we just make it harder to find when we need it. Good retention of learning means making robust pathways to find that information and organize it well. Read more: Slate: How do we retain what we learn? http://t.co/aruZENyWfg

The “Blood Moon” is upon us: 5 things to know about tonight’s freaky lunar eclipse http://t.co/sAgf80uffs