Efficiency of Motor Learning as a Function of Intertrial Rest

The efficiency of two practice schedules was examined on two large muscle motor tasks. There were four groups of subjects (N = 160); each individual in a group performed on one of the two motor tasks under one of the two conditions. Distributed practice consisted of alternating 30-second trials of practice and rest; massed practice was continuous for 8 minutes. Comparisons made during the last minute of practice prior to the rest pause revealed that the massed groups had significant decrements in performance level. In contrast, after the rest period, when both groups were on a distributed schedule, no difference was found in the amount of learning. Learning was found to be a function of the number of trials and independent of the conditions of practice.