Effect of Practice Structure and Off- Line Time Period on Consolidation of Motor Memory in Children: An Investigation of Theoretical Foundation for Principles of Practice Variability and Memory Encoding Specificity

Background and Memory consolidation and learning are effective factors to form and develop motor and cognitive skills in children. In the present study, practice structure and off- line time periods have been manipulated to examine its effects on motor memory consolidation in children
36 female students (9-12 years old) from Maktabi elementary school of Qom city were elected and randomly assigned to 3 groups of constant, blocked, and random practice. This study includes acquisition and retention tests for dart throwing task (tests were done in 3 time periods; 1hour, a day, and one week after practice). Retention tests were done by constant, blocked, and random to evaluate the variability and memory encoding specificity principles.
Means of radial errors showed skill improvement for blocked and constant practice groups. This improvement was not meaningful but remained over time for blocked practice group. Paired samples T test between end of acquisition and retention test similar to practice that showed significant decrease of error (p≤0.05) in the blocked practice group only (confirmation of the specificity principle). Paired comparisons between end of acquisition and constant retention tests in per group did not show any significant improvement (P≥0.05) for none of the off- line time periods in blocked and random practice groups (rejection of the variability of practice). However, we showed significant improvements (P≤0.05) for performance of both random and blocked groups in similar retention tests to practice (principle the specificity).
Memory consolidation and performance improvement could occur in children, even after 1 hour end of acquisition (in off- line time period). Furthermore, constant or low variable (blocked) practice could lead to more improvements in consolidation process and motor memory in children.