Traditionally, it's believed that the more time passes since an event, the worse we remember it.

Traditionally, it's believed that the more time passes since an event, the worse we remember it.

Turns out, there are conditions where episodic memory can improve over time. Sample: 130 participants.

Participants listened to a 20-minute audio guide tour of an art gallery. Some participants then slept for 12 hours, some stayed awake for 12 hours, and others decided for themselves when to sleep. The participants' memory was assessed on two aspects: details of the artworks and their sequence. Assessments were conducted after sleep, after a week, after a month, and after 15 months.

Shown: memory for details declines over time for all participants. However, for those who slept after the audio guide, memory for the sequence improved over time. This effect lasts even 15 months after listening to the audio guide. Episodic memory improves after sleep, but only the recall of the order of events improves, not the details.

Like this post and go to sleep.

Link to an article.