"Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology"

"Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology," written by Hermann Ebbinghaus in 1885, was a pioneering study that systematically examined how humans remember and forget information. Ebbinghaus used carefully controlled experiments, such as memorizing nonsense syllables, to analyze the processes involved in learning and recall. His research revealed important insights like the forgetting curve—showing how memory declines over time—and the importance of repeated review. This work laid the foundation for modern cognitive psychology by demonstrating that memory could be studied scientifically, highlighting the patterns and mechanisms underlying human learning and retention.