Ebbinghaus used nonsense syllables as stimuli in his memory experiments to minimize trials to criterion and maximize savings.

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Ebbinghaus used nonsense syllables to ensure that his memory experiments were not influenced by prior knowledge, making the learning material neutral and unfamiliar to all participants. Trials to criterion and savings were measures he used to assess memory, but the use of nonsense syllables was primarily to control for pre-existing associations, not to minimize or maximize these measures directly.

Ebbinghaus Used Nonsense Syllables as Stimuli in His Memory Experiments