The Memory Pioneer: How Hermann Ebbinghaus Changed the Way We Learn

This is part of a series, of people, who have contributed significantly to their field. Whilst they are known within the field, rarely are they known outside the field or widely, yet should be. See below for others

In the late 19th century, psychology was at a crossroads. The fledgling “science” was still trying to shake off its image as the speculative sibling of philosophy, struggling to establish itself as a rigorous discipline. Enter Hermann Ebbinghaus, a young German philosopher with a solitary mission that would forever alter our understanding of memory. He didn’t have a team of research assistants, a university lab, or even a formal mentor. What he did have was an obsession—and a willingness to experiment on the only subject available: himself.

While other thinkers of the time, like Wilhelm Wundt and William James, were laying the groundwork for psychology with elaborate theories and introspective methods, Ebbinghaus chose a different path. He took something as intangible as memory and did something radical—he quantified it. And he did this alone, in his cramped Berlin apartment, through a series of experiments that would be as gruelling as they were groundbreaking.

The Birth of an Idea

In 1879, Wilhelm Wundt had opened the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, aiming to explore the structure of the human mind through introspection. To simplify it somewhat with an analogy relevant today, Wundt’s approach was like trying to understand a computer by looking at the screen. Ebbinghaus, however, wanted to open up the machine and see how it worked from the inside. He decided to tackle the puzzle of memory in a way no one had thought to try before - - empirically, systematically, and without preconceived notions.

So, in 1880, Ebbinghaus started experimenting. Not with grand theories or complex hypotheses, but with something deceptively simple: nonsense syllables. These were meaningless combinations like “ZOF” and “WUG” - - words that didn’t exist in any language, designed to bypass the mind’s natural tendency to attach meaning and context to what it learns. By removing associations, Ebbinghaus could study memory in its purest form, untainted by the biases of prior knowledge or experience.

The Experiments

Imagine the scene: Ebbinghaus, day after day, sitting at his desk, repeating lists of these nonsense syllables to himself over and over again. It sounds tedious, even maddening. But he was meticulous, recording how many repetitions it took to learn a list perfectly, how quickly he forgot them, and how much easier it was to relearn them after various intervals. He was like a marathon runner, not for physical endurance but for cognitive stamina.

What he found was astonishing. Ebbinghaus mapped out what is now known as the “learning curve”—a concept that shows how learning happens quickly at first and then tapers off. He also discovered the “forgetting curve,” which demonstrates that forgetting happens rapidly right after learning and then slows down. And then there was the “spacing effect,” the insight that distributed practice - - spreading out learning over time - - which to this day is considered the most effective technique, certainly it is more effective than cramming. This was the birth of a new understanding of how we remember and forget, these are insights that remain at the core of education and psychology to this day.

The Breakthrough

In 1885, Ebbinghaus published Über das Gedächtnis (On Memory), a rather dense, technical treatise packed with data and graphs. It didn’t make waves in the popular imagination. There were no bestseller lists, no TED Talks. But among his peers, it was a revelation. William James called Ebbinghaus’s work “heroic” and acknowledged it as the first serious attempt to measure mental association experimentally. Ebbinghaus had turned memory - - a topic that seemed irredeemably subjective - -into something that could be studied with the precision of physics or chemistry.

Think about it. We take it for granted today that memory can be tested, that learning can be optimized, that forgetting follows predictable patterns. But before Ebbinghaus, these were not obvious ideas. His methods and findings laid the foundation for everything from modern cognitive psychology to educational technology, like the spaced repetition algorithms used in language learning apps.

The Ebbinghaus Effect

The “forgetting curve” is the basis for spaced repetition systems used by students and professionals worldwide. His work should inform how teachers structure lessons and how companies design training programs. Even when we set up reminders on our phones or schedule study sessions, we are, in essence, applying principles Ebbinghaus uncovered over a century ago.

Yet, Ebbinghaus remains something of an unsung hero. Unlike Freud, whose theories of the unconscious captured the public’s imagination, or James, whose writings were rich with philosophical insight, Ebbinghaus was a data cruncher. His work wasn’t flashy. It didn’t have the dramatic flair that captures headlines, nor the infographic designs of a Florence Nightingale. But it was the kind of foundational research that transforms an entire field.

Why Ebbinghaus Matters

So, why should we care about Hermann Ebbinghaus today? Because his story is a reminder that some of the most transformative ideas come from unexpected places. Ebbinghaus wasn’t part of the psychological establishment. He didn’t have a prestigious university post or a team of graduate students. He was an outsider, driven by a simple but profound question: How do we remember?

His work teaches us that real innovation often requires stripping things down to their essence, focusing relentlessly on the basics, and being willing to slog through the mundane, day after day. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the kind of discipline that lays the groundwork for big breakthroughs.

In a world obsessed with quick wins and instant impact, Ebbinghaus’s story is a powerful counterpoint. It’s a testament to the quiet power of persistence, of painstakingly measuring and recording, of testing and retesting. It’s about doing the work, even when no one is watching, even when the results seem small and incremental. Because sometimes, those small, steady steps lead to revolutionary leaps.

As we continue to explore the mysteries of memory - - whether through brain scans, artificial intelligence, or educational software -- we are, in many ways, still following the path Ebbinghaus blazed. His legacy is not just a set of principles or curves; it’s a mindset, a way of approaching problems that starts with curiosity, rigor, and the courage to tackle big questions one small step at a time.

…and remember “memory is all we have.”

Dr. Colin W.P. Lewis

Others in the series are Alonzo Church, Eric Kandel, Benoît Mandelbrot. Many more to follow.

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If you want to learn more about Hermann Ebbinghaus the following are useful resources. (I know, I know I added Wikipedia and other non-scientific pages - not very research orientated, but useful for the lay reader:-)):

[1]: Hermann Ebbinghaus - Wikipedia

[2]: Neural Correlates and Reinstatement of Recent and Remote Memory

[3]: Hermann Ebbinghaus - New World Encyclopedia
[4]: Hermann Ebbinghaus: Memory Research Pioneer in Psychology
[5]: Hermann Ebbinghaus and the Scientific Study of Memory

[6]: From Ebbinghaus to Encoding | in Chapter 06: Memory
[7]: Ebbinghaus, Hermann (1850-1909) - Encyclopedia.com
[8]: How Memory Works | Derek Bok Center, Harvard University

[9]: What is Ebbinghaus’s Forgetting Curve and How to Overcome it

[10]: Memory, the Forgetting Curve, and Their Implications
[11]: Spaced Practice: A teacher's guide - Structural Learning
[12]: Ebbinghaus, Hermann - Encyclopedia.com

[13]: Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve - Thinkific
[14]: The Psychology of Forgetting and Why Memory Fails - Verywell Mind
[15]: Hermann Ebbinghaus
[16]: Techniques for Retrieval Practice: Enhancing ... - The Teaching Couple
[17]: The Power of Spaced Repetition to Improve Learning - Teacher Tech

[18]: The complete guide to understanding Retrieval Practice
[19]: Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve - Psychestudy
[20]: [Series: Influential Educators] Hermann Ebbinghaus & the Forgetting Curve

[21]: Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve (Definition + Examples)
[22]: Mechanisms of memory under stress - PubMed
[23]: How Memory Works - Psychology Today