Spaced Repetition Deep Dive: How to Boost Long-Term Retention  

Imagine studying your anatomy flashcards today. At just the right moment, those tricky muscle names reappear right before they'd slip away from memory. That's the beauty of spaced repetition. With Medulla Flashcards, you can combine ancient wisdom with modern technology for effective learning.


1. The Classic: Leitner System  

What is it?  

Introduced in 1972 by Sebastian Leitner, this is the original “flash in boxes” system. You sort cards into boxes numbered by frequency. You review Box 1 every day, Box 2 every three days, Box 3 weekly, and so on.


Why it works:  

Spaced repetition makes tricky cards pop up more often while mastered ones wait longer. This saves you time.  

Active recall forces you to answer, strengthening memory.  

Seeing cards advance from box to box feels rewarding.


How to do it with Medulla Flashcards:  

Create virtual boxes or tags like “Leitner 1-5.”  

Review due cards daily and move them between boxes based on your performance.  

Trust the process. Over time, only the hard cards will stick around.


2. The Digital Leap: Modern SRS Algorithms  

A. SM-2 & Anki-Style Systems  

Anki, built on the SuperMemo-2 algorithm, is a digital successor to Leitner, but smarter. You have three review options: ‘Again’, ‘Good’, and ‘Easy.’  

A card's “ease factor” adjusts how long until you see it next.  

Anki even gives bonus interval boosts if you're late but still remember.


In Medulla Flashcards, this means:  

Rate your confidence.  

Intervals adjust automatically behind the scenes without needing manual boxes.


B. Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler (FSRS)  

Introduced in Anki 23.10, FSRS uses memory science to predict how retrievable, stable, and difficult each card is.  

It learns from your review history.  

This makes scheduling highly efficient, allowing for fewer reviews with the same or better retention.


In Medulla Flashcards, FSRS can be your secret weapon, providing balanced learning without extra effort.


3. From Theory to Practice: Medulla Flashcards Tips  

Start simple. Try digital Leitner; tag new cards as “Box 1” and move them to higher boxes over time.  

Use ratings. After each review, choose how well you remembered: Easy, Good, or Hard.  

Automate intervals. Choose Classic (SM-2) or FSRS mode in settings, and let Medulla handle the scheduling.  

Use visual cues. Check your dashboard for “due today” versus “upcoming.”  

Lapsed card rescue. If you struggle with a card, it goes back to Box 1 or gets a reduced interval, depending on your system.


4. Why It All Works  

The spacing effect means reviewing just before forgetting cements memory better than cramming at the last minute.  

Desirable difficulty keeps you challenged without overwhelming or boring you.  

Efficient focus prioritizes harder cards, boosting the return on your study investment.


5. A Day with Medulla Flashcards  

You open the app and see that 15 cards are due today.  

You rate each one; most are “Good,” while a few are “Again.”  

The app silently updates intervals: mastered cards won't reappear for weeks, while tougher ones will come back tomorrow.  

You finish the session feeling confident, efficient, and ready for more tomorrow.

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