<p>There are probably too many different possible variables here to make any broad declarations of which specific interval is most effective.</p>

<p>There are "between session" improvements in procedural memory, which may result from consolidation of memory especially during sleep. There can also be between session decays as learned skills deteriorate over time. Optimizing the between session change is the key factor in optimizing time spent training vs improvement.</p>

<p>Hauptmann et al. 2005 found that in the specific context they tested, "between session" improvements were optimized when subjects stopped training at the point of saturation of learning. That is, they practiced in one session until they stopped seeing improvement during that session to optimize the total learning per time practiced. The specific amount of time spent training before saturation was not the same for all subjects.</p>

<p>It isn't clear how broadly applicable this finding would be, and in the context of physically demanding tasks like sport there could easily be non-mental factors that dominate: for example, if your training saturates because you are injuring yourself, you may be physically limited in training rather than mentally limited.</p>

<hr>

<p>Brashers-Krug, T., Shadmehr, R., &amp; Bizzi, E. (1996). Consolidation in human motor memory. Nature, 382(6588), 252.</p>

<p>Diekelmann, S., &amp; Born, J. (2010). The memory function of sleep. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 11(2), 114.</p>

<p>Hauptmann, B., Reinhart, E., Brandt, S. A., &amp; Karni, A. (2005). The predictive value of the leveling off of within session performance for procedural memory consolidation. Cognitive Brain Research, 24(2), 181-189.</p>

<p>Karni, A., Tanne, D., Rubenstein, B. S., Askenasy, J. J., &amp; Sagi, D. (1994). Dependence on REM sleep of overnight improvement of a perceptual skill. Science, 265(5172), 679-682.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T17:30:04.740Z
2019-02-08T17:43:50.323Z
2019-02-08T17:43:50.323Z
Bryan Krause
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Space Repetition</a> is an effective learning method for both <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedural_memory" rel="nofollow noreferrer">procedural</a> and declarative learning. However it cannot replace practicing the skill in real life.</p>
<p>Some references:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://eclass.uoa.gr/modules/document/file.php/GS391/Ullmann%20%26%20Lovelett%202018%20declarative%20procedural.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Michael T Ullman, Jarrett T Lovelett Implications of the declarative/procedural model for improving second language learning: The role of memory enhancement techniques, 2018</a></li>
<li><a href="https://super-memory.com/articles/grammar.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer"> Adam Pliszka, 2010: &quot;SuperMemo can be used in both declarative and procedural learning&quot;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_practice" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Distributed practice - Wikipedia</a>: &quot;Distributed practice is the most efficient method of procedural learning&quot;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.unmc.edu/academicaffairs/_documents/connected/Love_TipSheet_SpacedPractice.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Linda M. Love, EdD; Enhancing Learning Using Spaced Practice</a></li>
<li><a href="https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Procedural_learning" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Procedural_learning</a></li>
<li>Jennifer Gehrt, <a href="https://www.communiquepr.com/learning-something-new-consider-how-declarative-and-procedural-systems-both-play-a-role/16821/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Learning Something New? Consider How Declarative and Procedural Systems Both Play a Role; September 17, 2020</a></li>
<li>Piotr A. Wozniak, <a href="http://www.manfred-kremer.de/supermemo/german/ol.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Optimization of learning</a>: Application of SuperMemo in procedural learning</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-05T09:06:40.480Z
2021-05-05T09:06:40.480Z
Andrej Adamenko
<p>Example: Say Alice and Bob want to learn to pride a bike. Alice practices for an hour every day. Bob practices for 7 hours each saturday. They are both getting the same amount of practice. Which of them learns faster?</p>

<p>This question is about spaced vs mass learning with respect, specifically, to procedural memory. I have been able to find some research on spaced repetition of flash card memorisation, but that is declarative memory, which might be different.</p>

<p>Have any studies been done on this, to determine the optimal duration/spacing of practice sessions for procedural learning?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T10:58:10.350Z
Welcome to Psychology.SE.  You said *"I have been able to find some research on spaced repetition of flash card memorisation, but that is declarative memory, which might be different."*  What has your research come up with regarding the difference with declarative memory?
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-08T11:05:52.340Z
@ChrisRogers I don't understand what you are asking. Declarative memory is knowledge, procedural memory is skill. I don't know much more than that. If procedural and declarative memory are actually the same thing and the difference is only semantic, then please point me to a study showing that, and I'll accept it as an answer.
Benubird
<learning><procedural-memory>
Is practice more effective if spaced over time?
Benubird
# Is practice more effective if spaced over time?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-02-08)

Example: Say Alice and Bob want to learn to pride a bike. Alice practices for an hour every day. Bob practices for 7 hours each saturday. They are both getting the same amount of practice. Which of them learns faster?

This question is about spaced vs mass learning with respect, specifically, to procedural memory. I have been able to find some research on spaced repetition of flash card memorisation, but that is declarative memory, which might be different.

Have any studies been done on this, to determine the optimal duration/spacing of practice sessions for procedural learning?

**Tags:** learning, procedural-memory

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to Psychology.SE.  You said *"I have been able to find some research on spaced repetition of flash card memorisation, but that is declarative memory, which might be different."*  What has your research come up with regarding the difference with declarative memory?  
> **username_0**: @ChrisRogers I don't understand what you are asking. Declarative memory is knowledge, procedural memory is skill. I don't know much more than that. If procedural and declarative memory are actually the same thing and the difference is only semantic, then please point me to a study showing that, and I'll accept it as an answer.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-02-08. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

There are probably too many different possible variables here to make any broad declarations of which specific interval is most effective.

There are "between session" improvements in procedural memory, which may result from consolidation of memory especially during sleep. There can also be between session decays as learned skills deteriorate over time. Optimizing the between session change is the key factor in optimizing time spent training vs improvement.

Hauptmann et al. 2005 found that in the specific context they tested, "between session" improvements were optimized when subjects stopped training at the point of saturation of learning. That is, they practiced in one session until they stopped seeing improvement during that session to optimize the total learning per time practiced. The specific amount of time spent training before saturation was not the same for all subjects.

It isn't clear how broadly applicable this finding would be, and in the context of physically demanding tasks like sport there could easily be non-mental factors that dominate: for example, if your training saturates because you are injuring yourself, you may be physically limited in training rather than mentally limited.

---

Brashers-Krug, T., Shadmehr, R., & Bizzi, E. (1996). Consolidation in human motor memory. Nature, 382(6588), 252.

Diekelmann, S., & Born, J. (2010). The memory function of sleep. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 11(2), 114.

Hauptmann, B., Reinhart, E., Brandt, S. A., & Karni, A. (2005). The predictive value of the leveling off of within session performance for procedural memory consolidation. Cognitive Brain Research, 24(2), 181-189.

Karni, A., Tanne, D., Rubenstein, B. S., Askenasy, J. J., & Sagi, D. (1994). Dependence on REM sleep of overnight improvement of a perceptual skill. Science, 265(5172), 679-682.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2021-05-05. Score: 2

[Space Repetition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition) is an effective learning method for both [procedural](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedural_memory) and declarative learning. However it cannot replace practicing the skill in real life.

Some references:

* [Michael T Ullman, Jarrett T Lovelett Implications of the declarative/procedural model for improving second language learning: The role of memory enhancement techniques, 2018](https://eclass.uoa.gr/modules/document/file.php/GS391/Ullmann%20%26%20Lovelett%202018%20declarative%20procedural.pdf)
* [Adam Pliszka, 2010: "SuperMemo can be used in both declarative and procedural learning"](https://super-memory.com/articles/grammar.htm)
* [Distributed practice - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_practice): "Distributed practice is the most efficient method of procedural learning"
* [Linda M. Love, EdD; Enhancing Learning Using Spaced Practice](https://www.unmc.edu/academicaffairs/_documents/connected/Love_TipSheet_SpacedPractice.pdf)
* <https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Procedural_learning>
* Jennifer Gehrt, [Learning Something New? Consider How Declarative and Procedural Systems Both Play a Role; September 17, 2020](https://www.communiquepr.com/learning-something-new-consider-how-declarative-and-procedural-systems-both-play-a-role/16821/)
* Piotr A. Wozniak, [Optimization of learning](http://www.manfred-kremer.de/supermemo/german/ol.htm): Application of SuperMemo in procedural learning


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