The Neuroscience of Retention in Simulation-Based Learning

We assume that if someone can recall training content immediately after a session, they’ve learned it. But neuroscience tells a different story. Authentic learning means embedding information in a way that can be retrieved and used at any time, even under stress.

The Brain Learns by Doing

Our brains encode memories more effectively when we engage multiple sensory systems. In simulation-based training, learners hear, see, decide, and respond. This “multi-modal encoding” not only builds stronger memory but also creates emotional tags, which are crucial for recalling information over time.

For instance, a study published in Cognitive Psychology demonstrated that drawing, which combines visual, motor, and semantic processing, significantly improves memory retention compared to writing or viewing alone. This is because drawing activates multiple brain regions, creating stronger and more durable memory traces.¹

Traditional training methods, such as lectures or reading materials, are considered passive methods that have shown lower retention rates. Since neuroscience research indicates that active engagement methods lead to better retention, it’s no wonder trainees start losing the information bit by bit a couple of weeks following the traditional training.

By engaging multiple senses and cognitive processes, simulations help embed knowledge more deeply, making it more retrievable in real-world situations. We dive into the science that explains why active decision-making and problem-solving outperform traditional training in terms of knowledge retention. 

The Science Is Clear

Research supports the effectiveness of simulation-based learning across various domains:

• Improved Long-Term Retention: A study assessing simulation-based training for perioperative nurses found that participants retained knowledge effectively even after seven days, demonstrating the durability of learning through simulation.²
• Enhanced Decision-Making Under Uncertainty: The Journal of Neuroscience reported that multimodal learning experiences, like those provided by simulations, improve the brain's ability to process and retrieve information in complex situations.
• Increased Learner Confidence: Engaging in realistic scenarios allows learners to practice and refine their skills in a safe environment, boosting their confidence when applying these skills in real-life contexts.

If your training program is designed for speed, you may be training just to retrain.

Simulation-based learning, grounded in neuroscience principles, breaks that cycle. Platforms that SimTutor offers inherently provide an active, feedback-rich environment that enhances both memory retention and skill acquisition. By incorporating simulation-based training programs, you can foster deeper learning, improved performance, and increased confidence among your teams. And avoid the cycle of constantly retraining.

Traditional training methods usually rely on completion rates, satisfaction surveys, or post-tests that capture what learners can immediately recall after instruction, but not what they’ll remember or apply weeks later. SimTutor is designed to give your learners the best chance for success by incorporating proven methods for strong retention.

• Pre and post-scenario assessments
  Test learner competency both before training begins and after it’s completed. This creates a measurable baseline and shows not only that learning occurred, but how much progress was made. These reports are an excellent way to demonstrate the impact of your training program to executives, as well as identify learners who may require additional support.
• Error pattern analysis
  Identify where learners consistently struggle—whether it’s a decision point, a procedural misstep, or a compliance gap, you can easily pinpoint an area that learners find more challenging. Just as important, you can see whether those errors resolve over time with guided feedback and practice or if you need to make adjustments to the material itself to aid in the absorption.
• Repeat engagement tracking
  Know how often learners revisit key modules or simulations. This data helps determine who is engaging in spaced practice and reinforcing key concepts, versus who may need targeted intervention.
• Performance over time
  Rather than capturing a snapshot of understanding at a single moment, such as immediately after a PowerPoint presentation or lecture, simulation-based training platforms like SimTutor provide data to demonstrate how knowledge persists over days, weeks, or months. This practice is aligned with the principles of spaced learning and retrieval.
• Scenario adaptability
  Because simulation-based training involves dynamic scenarios that change in response to learner actions, instructors gain insight into how learners perform under varying conditions. This is particularly critical for fields such as healthcare, manufacturing, or call centers, where adaptability is essential.

The Peak of Retention

By weaving in the core neurological processes, simulation-based training leverages how the brain learns. It offers a rare blend of both theoretical depth and practical execution of spaced retrieval, contextual application, and sensory engagement. This is precisely why simulations occupy the top tier of the Learning Pyramid, which ranks teaching methods by average retention rates. While passive strategies, such as lectures and reading, yield retention rates of 5–20%, learning by doing—such as practicing through simulation—can result in retention rates of up to 90%. 

These aren’t just numbers; they’re an indicator of how much valuable knowledge is being left on the table by traditional formats.

At its core, SimTutor makes learning active, adaptive, and durable. The results are measurable—higher retention rates, better judgment under pressure, and fewer knowledge gaps that require retraining down the line.

For organizations and academic programs committed to developing confident, capable performers, simulation-based training isn’t a flashy add-on. It’s a strategic investment grounded in cognitive science. If your current training methods aren’t delivering results that last, it may be time to move beyond the lecture and start building the kind of training that sticks.

Book a demo with SimTutor today to discover how partnering with us will provide your learners with the training they need to succeed!

^{1 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010027719301088?utm_source=chatgpt.com}

^{2 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8936786/?utm_source=chatgpt.com}