Stabilizing Access to Marginal and Submarginal Knowledge

Recall of general-knowledge targets remains remarkably high 9 days after a 5-s exposure, although these targets could not be recalled (marginal knowledge) or recognized (submarginal knowledge) just prior to exposure. Large amounts of educational content (e.g., foreign language vocabulary, mathematical formulas) become marginal or submarginal after formal study ends. The authors discuss the potential benefits of brief maintenance interventions designed to stabilize long-term access to such knowledge.