Take a break! How tiny time-outs actually improve learning capacity

Trying to power through all your practice for that new skill you're trying to learn? Scientists say taking some short breaks is actually the key to learning well and here's why.

Researchers mapping the brain activity of people learning new skills found that the 'resting brain' repeatedly replays compressed memories of what was just practised. The more a participant's brain replayed the activity, the better they performed during the next practice sessions. This suggests that wakeful rest also strengthens memories.

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The study by UK's National Institutes of Health involved 33 healthy volunteers who were asked to perform the same activity repeatedly while alternating the practice with 35 restful breaks. It was observed that the benefits of these breaks levelled off after the 11th cycle.

Overall, the study, published in Cell Reports, supports the idea that interspersing your learning practice with mini-breaks significantly improves learning outcomes.

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