Serial position effect

The serial position effect is why you remember some things better depending on when you heard or read them. Imagine someone reading a list of words out loud to you. You might remember the first few words and the last few words better than the ones in the middle. This is because of the serial position effect.

Just like when you count, you start at one and go up, the things you hear or see go in order too. The first things you hear are called the "primacy effect" and the last things are called the "recency effect." They are easier to remember because they are still in your short-term memory when you try to remember the list. The things in the middle are harder to remember because they were pushed out of your short-term memory by other things.

So, if you want to remember something better, make sure it's at the beginning or end of what you're trying to remember. That way, you're more likely to keep it in your short-term memory long enough to remember it later.