Performance and reminiscence in motor learning as a function of the degree of distribution of practice.

Abstract

5 groups of Ss were given 21 30-sec. trials of upside-down backwards alphabet printing. Trials were separated by rest pauses of 0, 5, 10, 15, or 30 sec., and all but the 30-sec. group were given a 10-min. rest between the 20th and 21st trials. No difference in the amount of temporary reactive inhibition was obtained for groups learning under the two conditions with the greatest degrees of massing of practice. The amount of reminiscence decreases as the inter-trial interval increases. After the early trials, the level of performance is a negatively accelerated function of the length of the inter-trial rest pause. When differences in the rate of learning finally appear, they occur as an increasing linear function of the length of the inter-trial rest. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)