Theories Cognitive Psychology What Is Memory Consolidation? Connecting new information to long-term memories By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 06, 2023 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Sean Blackburn Fact checked by Sean Blackburn Sean is a fact-checker and researcher with experience in sociology, field research, and data analytics. Learn about our editorial process Print Tara Moore / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Building Long-Term Memories With New Information How Memory Consolidation Works Influences on Memory Consolidation Speeding Up Memory Consolidation Trending Videos Close this video player Short-term memory tends to be limited in duration and capacity. In fact, the human brain can store short-term memories for only about 30 seconds—so it must move important information into long-term memory to retain it. That's where memory consolidation comes in. What Is Memory Consolidation? Memory consolidation is the process in the brain that converts short-term memories into long-term ones. Building Long-Term Memories With New Information Memory consolidation relies on synapses in the brain. In something akin to an electrical system conducting a current,r the synapses pass signals from neuron to neuron with the help of neurotransmitters. The more frequently signals are passed, the stronger the synapses become. This process, called potentiation, is believed to play a major role in learning and memory processes. When two neurons fire at the same time repeatedly, they become more likely to fire together in the future. Eventually, these two neurons become sensitized to one another. As you acquire new experiences and memories, your brain creates more and more of these connections. Essentially, the brain rearranges itself, establishing new connections while weeding out old ones. How Short-Term Memory Works How Memory Consolidation Works By rehearsing or recalling information repeatedly, these neural networks strengthen. For example, if you study the same material regularly over a long period, the pathways involved in remembering that information become stronger. The repeated firing of the same neurons makes it more likely that those same neurons will be able to repeat that firing in the future. As a result, you'll remember the information later with ease and accuracy. Here's another way to think of these synaptic pathways: They're similar to a path in the woods. The more often you walk the path, the more familiar it becomes and the easier it is to traverse. Influences on Memory Consolidation Although we often think of the brain as a filing cabinet or a computer with individual files of memories carefully stored away, the reality is that memories are spread out across the entire brain. Through the consolidation process, the brain creates a sort of neural map, allowing memories to be retrieved when needed. Sleep can play an important role in the consolidation process. One of the major theories of sleep suggests that it's a way to process and consolidate information we acquire during our waking lives. People often think of memories as permanent, but just because a memory has been consolidated does not mean you can't lose it. Researchers have found that memories often need to be reconsolidated once they have been recalled. The process of recalling and reconsolidating a memory can help maintain and strengthen information in long-term memory. Researchers have also found that memories must be reconsolidated every time you access them. This process, however, can transform and change the memory itself. The very act of remembering, it seems, can lead to some things being forgotten. How a Power Nap Can Improve Your Memory Speeding Up Memory Consolidation It is also possible to speed up the consolidation process when learning new information. Rehearsal and memorization strategies, such as using mnemonic devices and studying are a few techniques. One of the best ways to ensure that information is consolidated into long-term memory is to rehearse it over several spaced intervals repeatedly. That's why going over your class notes once a week for several weeks will lead to greater memory retention than cramming the night before an exam. How to Learn More Effectively A Word From Verywell By understanding how consolidation works, you might be able to adapt your memorization strategies to boost the process. Repetition/study and sleep are good places to start. 3 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Himmer, L., Schönauer, M., Heib, D. P. J., Schabus, M., & Gais, S. (2019). Rehearsal initiates systems memory consolidation, sleep makes it last. Science Advances, 5(4), eaav1695. doi:10.1126/sciadv.aav1695 Rasch B, Born J. About sleep's role in memory. Physiol Rev. 2013;93(2):681-766. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00032.2012 Alberini CM, Ledoux JE. Memory reconsolidation. Curr Biol. 2013;23(17):R746-50. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.06.046 Additional Reading Milner B, Corkin S, Teuber HL. Further analysis of the hippocampal amnesic syndrome: 14-year follow-up study of H.M. Neuropsychologia. 1968;6(3):215. doi:10.1016/0028-3932(68)90021-3 Payne J.D, Kensinger EA. Sleep’s role in the consolidation of emotional episodic memories. Current Directions in Psychological Science. 2010;19(5):290-295. doi:10.1177/0963721410383978 By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit