Elaborative rehearsal is a memory and learning technique that involves the formation of associations and connections between new information and other concepts already stored in memory. It is a way to memorize information more effectively and maintain it in long-term memory. Elaborative rehearsal is different from maintenance rehearsal, which involves repeating information over and over again to maintain it in short-term memory.

Elaborative rehearsal is effective because it involves thinking about the meaning of the information and connecting it to other information already stored in memory. This approach requires the learner to engage with new information in a way that creates meaningful connections to previously-learned things, thus leading to the new information also being committed to long-term memory.

Some examples of elaborative rehearsal include using rhyming, music, analogy, and contextualization cues to retain information long-term. An effective way of encouraging elaborative rehearsal is by engaging with the material in more than one way, such as through discussion or study groups, which provide an opportunity to make discrete pieces of information more personal by attaching stories to them and creating meaningful connections to things.

Elaborative rehearsal is a positive strategy to help people retain information long-term, especially for students when studying and writing exams. However, it can have adverse effects on people with trauma or PTSD.