By: Kyle Arnold
Dedicated
students at the college level like to stay consistent when it comes to studying
so they can retain their information as best they can for when an exam rolls
around. However, when it gets to the end of the year and exams/finals are
piling on top of each other, students tend to make up for lost time by cramming
at the last moment in a last minute effort to make things work on their exams.
The
real question is, does cramming even work like we think it does?
Maddie
Daniel, a criminal justice major at Georgia Southern University was asked about
cramming. When asked why she has fallen to cramming in the past, she mentioned
that she usually doesn’t do any studying for her exams until the very last
moment.
When
asked if she thinks that it works, she had this to say.
“I
genuinely think it works better for my brain to read everything right before a
test, so I’ll just cram everything in before,” Daniel said.
We
asked another student from Georgia Southern University, a graphics design
major, if she shared the same thoughts about cramming as Daniel.
“I
have had to cram because it’s really easy to get caught up with all of your
projects when you’re in graphic design, and sometimes my best work comes out when
I have no time to do it, the student said.
She
also mentioned that she feels like she has been able to perform well after
cramming. She guessed that it is probably because she put herself in a lot of
pressure to do it, which will relate to something that will
be brought up later in the article.
When
we learn something, even if it is for the first time, we form connections in
the brain through neurons. These connections are made stronger depending on how
often that we introduce the topics to ourselves, so naturally we’ll remember
something if we are constantly being exposed to it.
This
ties into our long term memory, which is defined by the University of
Wollongong Australia as the brain’s library. When it comes to long term memory,
it has been mentioned before that it is built upon constantly introducing those
topics and experiences to the brain, but there is another method that works
even better.
According
to the Washington Post, long term memory can be used at its best when there is
a passage of time before reviewing information. Mild forgetfulness can be used
to create opportunities for the brain to strengthen the connection to the topic
or experience that was first introduced some time ago.
Cramming
cuts out the long process of building on those connections and only relies on
short term memory, which is used to quickly process and use information.
Cramming boosts short term memory learning because it causes a rush of
adrenaline and cortisol, according to the Spectator.
Adrenaline
and cortisol are both hormones that rush into the brain to promote alertness
and create a fake learning environment. The rush or the feeling of pressure
that was mentioned by the graphics design student is caused by these hormones.
Fortunately
for students that have studied at the last minute, cramming does work, but it
doesn’t work in the way that we would think.
There
are studies that have suggested that cramming is only good for short term
memory and that it isn’t something that should be relied on if you want to
remember something for a long time. According to the Spectator, up to 70% of
new information is forgotten in 24 hours if it isn’t reviewed.
There
have been suggestions that cramming can cause stress on the brain and lead to a
decrease in attention and memory, according to an article from Stanford
University. They claimed that the brain could be prone to a high amount of
stress from too much cramming and could lead to feelings of anxiety and
fatigue.
Ultimately
this can lead to poorer academic performance from mental blocks that have
developed from the constant stress that someone can put on their brain.
However, there are little to no supporting arguments that could strengthen this
claim.
Overall,
there isn’t much impact that cramming has on the brain except that there will
be a short difficulty in information retention and long term memory.
So
when it comes to studying efficiently to retain information, it would be best
to give yourself enough time for your brain to build strong connections with
the information that is being introduced to it. Also, be sure to give your mind
some time to mildly forget what has been learned, so you can create a stronger
learning experience.
Afterwards,
test time will roll around and you’ll be able to confidently rely on your long
term memory. You’ll thank yourself later for giving your brain some time to
work and not putting constant stress on your mind.