Skill retention

Definition

Skill retention refers to the ability to maintain and recall motor skills over time after they have been learned. This concept is crucial as it reflects the durability of practice and the effectiveness of learning strategies used to encode skills into long-term memory. Factors such as the amount of practice, the nature of the skill, and the variability in practice can significantly influence how well a skill is retained over time.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Skill retention can be influenced by the amount of time spent practicing a skill; more practice generally leads to better retention.
2. Variability in practice conditions can enhance skill retention by promoting adaptability and deeper cognitive processing of the skill.
3. The type of feedback received during practice can also affect skill retention, with specific feedback helping to reinforce correct movements.
4. Overlearning, or practicing a skill beyond the point of initial mastery, has been shown to improve long-term retention.
5. Retention intervals, or the time between when a skill is learned and when it is performed again, can impact how well the skill is recalled.

Review Questions

• How does practice variability contribute to skill retention, and why is it important in motor learning?
  • Practice variability contributes to skill retention by allowing learners to experience different contexts and conditions while practicing a skill. This exposure helps them adapt their performance to varying situations, enhancing their ability to recall and execute the skill later. The diverse experiences help consolidate learning, making it easier for individuals to transfer their skills to real-life scenarios.
• Discuss the relationship between overlearning and skill retention in the context of motor learning strategies.
  • Overlearning involves practicing a skill beyond its initial mastery level, which has been shown to significantly improve retention. By reinforcing neural pathways associated with the motor task, overlearning helps make the execution of the skill more automatic. In motor learning strategies, incorporating overlearning ensures that learners not only achieve proficiency but also maintain that proficiency over time, even with longer retention intervals.
• Evaluate how feedback during practice affects both immediate performance and long-term skill retention in motor learning.
  • Feedback during practice plays a dual role in shaping immediate performance and long-term skill retention. Immediate feedback helps learners correct errors on-the-spot, promoting better performance during practice sessions. However, feedback that emphasizes self-discovery and encourages problem-solving may lead to deeper processing of information, ultimately benefiting long-term retention. An effective balance between immediate corrective feedback and reflective feedback can enhance overall motor learning outcomes.

Related terms

Motor Memory: Motor memory is a type of procedural memory that enables individuals to perform tasks automatically after having practiced them.

Practice Variability: Practice variability refers to the different conditions and contexts in which a skill is practiced, which can enhance retention and adaptability.

Learning Curve: A learning curve represents the rate at which a person learns a new skill over time, illustrating how performance improves with practice.