How to get better at long term recall rather than learning associatively?

[XxSynapsexX]

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Hello,

I have noticed that when studying for Step when I am studying a subject, I am really good at it at during that time period. Weeks later I feel like I can still have an okay knowledge foundation and know things associatively.

For example- If they asked specifically, what are the lab values in Sideroblastic Anemia, I can usually snuff out the answer.

However, if you ask me to recall everything I know about sideroblastic anemia on the spot without any context, I really struggle to recall anything and my memory feels like it freezes up.

Other times when I am studying a subject like GI and I see that this autoimmune disease is associated with Hashimoto Thyroiditis I think to myself "hmm.... I remember knowing it really well but I cant come up with anything about what it was, darn it now that I think about it, I dont know remember anything other than what I just learned"

I guess what Im asking is how can I get better at recall memory. I feel like while I may be able to do well in Step 1, I will get destroyed when being pimped in 3rd year.

Thanks guys!

 

[shouldigomd]

What you describe is normal learning. Everyone doesn't learn in the same fashion but the fundamental key behind it is ... repetition. You can draw charts, do flash cards, audio record, watch videos, etc ... but you simply have to grind it over and over. Forgetting is part of learning. The more associations you create over time ... the more you learn. And whilst you do forget ... relearning becomes much quicker when you have the files already stored deep in that brain of yours.

 

[chromuffin]

Hello,

I have noticed that when studying for Step when I am studying a subject, I am really good at it at during that time period. Weeks later I feel like I can still have an okay knowledge foundation and know things associatively.

For example- If they asked specifically, what are the lab values in Sideroblastic Anemia, I can usually snuff out the answer.

However, if you ask me to recall everything I know about sideroblastic anemia on the spot without any context, I really struggle to recall anything and my memory feels like it freezes up.

Other times when I am studying a subject like GI and I see that this autoimmune disease is associated with Hashimoto Thyroiditis I think to myself "hmm.... I remember knowing it really well but I cant come up with anything about what it was, darn it now that I think about it, I dont know remember anything other than what I just learned"

I guess what Im asking is how can I get better at recall memory. I feel like while I may be able to do well in Step 1, I will get destroyed when being pimped in 3rd year.

Thanks guys!

You're not alone. I could recite every single biochemical pathway a month ago. Now.. all I could do is glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, TCA, ETC, and purine salvage. BUT.. a month before that I couldn't tell you anything.. just grind it out. USE Anki cards or whatever to keep things fresh. You'd be surprised how much it helps things stick. For instance, I've not looked at cardio in over a month, but I can still tell you tetralogy of fallout has pulmonary stenosis, RVH, over-riding aorta, andVSD. And that squatting will lessen the cyanosis. Not just because I memorized an FA page, but because I memorized that page, know the pathophys, and keep seeing it in Anki cards.