Rewiring the brain with repeated retrieval: A parametric fMRI study of the testing effect

The “testing effect” refers to the beneficial effects on memory performance from being tested, a phenomenon of potentially substantial implications in educational settings. While the effect itself is firmly established in previous research, little is known of related brain changes. Here we used fMRI and a parametric design to show that repeated successful retrieval during a memory acquisition phase leads to higher brain activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) at a subsequent test phase. The extent of ACC activity increase correlated across individuals with memory performance 5 months later. In relation to recent research that associates the ACC with memory consolidation processes, the present results suggest that the testing effect may operate at the systems level by enhancing consolidation of memory representations.

► Taking tests enhance learning.
► FMRI was used to investigate the neurocognitive mechanisms of this testing effect.
► The findings indicate that testing boosts systems-level consolidation.