The spacing effect is a principle from cognitive psychology. It states that learning and retention are more effective when knowledge is acquired over time than all at once. So, if you want to learn regression techniques in mathematics, take lessons and practice problems over several weeks, as opposed to all at once (“cramming”). As we’ll see below, the same model applies to physical training, including martial arts such as aikido.
Why does this phenomenon occur? It has to do with how the brain and nervous system work. Memory, whether simply information content or procedural actions, is stored in multiple locations in the brain and nervous system, and degrades over time. One factor relevant to this discussion is that items stored in short term memory or so-called working memory are temporary. They only get into long term memory through repeated timely repetition of the learning content or physical procedure.
So, how in fact do we “learn”? We practice!
Practice reinforces our memory content, both cognitive and procedural. But practice has a stronger learning effect when we space it out over a reasonable time interval. Solid research evidence shows that learning retention is most powerful if repeated practice occurs at the point where we would otherwise begin to lose memory of the practiced activity. Hence, the spacing effect. This interval varies from person to person, but typically ranges from a few days to perhaps a week. Timing practice to a few days forces your brain and nervous system to “try harder”, which is beneficial in building long term learning. In other words, learning is “effortful”, to use a term from cognitive psychology. But, if we wait too long, the foundational learning from our last practice is no longer sufficiently available to build on. We have to start over.
I propose that it’s well worth while to think about what the spacing effect means for our own practice frequency? It may vary somewhat, depending on what it is we are trying to learn. But there is likely a spacing effect for anything we learn. And it doesn’t matter how old you are!