Final answer:
The statement about Ebbinghaus' finding on the forgetting curve is true; he observed that new information, such as nonsense syllables, is forgotten rapidly at first with significant loss shortly after learning.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Hermann Ebbinghaus found that the forgetting curve for nonsense syllables was rapid at first is true. Ebbinghaus conducted experiments on memory and learning by memorizing lists of nonsensical syllables, then measuring how much he retained after various intervals of time. He discovered that memory for new information, such as the nonsense syllables, quickly decayed. This memory decay was particularly steep shortly after learning, with about a 50% loss after 20 minutes and around 70% loss after one day. The initial rapid decline of the retention rate is what is referred to as the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve.
His findings revealed storage decay, with the memory for new information fading significantly after short periods, then the rate of forgetting slows down eventually leveling out as depicted in the forgetting curve. Ebbinghaus' work is relevant to understanding how transient memory can be and why certain learning and revision techniques are important for better long-term information retention.