Do you work a lot with the topic of learning? Then you probably know that breaks are important for learning success. But it was only in June 2021 that a fascinating experiment examined brain activity during learning in order to question this assumption. We summarize what the results mean for training and coaching in this article.
The spacing effect: learning with breaks
Almost every trainer knows: breaks are important. During breaks, our brain continues to work without us noticing. That is why good training programs are structured so that learning takes place in short segments. Especially when acquiring skills, the rule is: practice – break – practice – break.
You may also be familiar with the spacing effect (or interval effect): It states that we are more likely to forget things and events the longer ago they happened. That is why we should build repetition into our learning, ideally at increasingly longer intervals. Breaks take place again and again in between.
This effect is especially relevant in today’s working world. Short learning phases with deliberate breaks can be integrated into everyday work much more easily than long training sessions. This not only increases learning performance, but also the willingness to keep learning regularly.
However, it was only recently that a study by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in the USA demonstrated that actual learning through repetition takes place in the brain during these learning breaks. The study is open access, so you can read it in full here (in English) as a PDF. The title of the study: Consolidation of human skill linked to waking hippocampo-neocortical replay.
If you want the short version: we explain the study in German and summarize what the results mean for trainers and coaches.
Summary of the study
In the experiment, participants were asked to type the digits 41324 on a keyboard as quickly and accurately as possible with one hand. They had 10 seconds of practice time again and again, followed by 10 seconds of breaks. You can imagine that this is a typical task that gets better with practice. The question now is: what happens in the participants’ brains during the break time?
To answer that, brain activity (in the hippocampus and neocortex) was measured throughout the entire period. The authors of the study presented the result in this very clear graphic:
Graphic open access, taken from cell.com: summary of the study by Ethan R. Buch et al. (June 2021)
In the graphic, you can see that so-called “micro-offline gains” occur during the 10-second breaks: although—or rather because—we are no longer practicing during this time, our skill level increases during this break time. And it increases much more strongly than during the actual practice time! The brain image shows that some areas work intensely during the break and repeat what has been learned (“waking replay”).
One more note: the term is “waking replay,” meaning repetition while awake. It is well known that we process experiences during sleep and thereby learn, and this can also be found in other studies besides the one mentioned here. This study is explicitly about breaks while awake.
Ideally, then, we use both breaks during the day and nighttime sleep to consolidate what we have learned.
What we learn from the study for training
How can you use the results of the study in your everyday work—especially as a trainer and organizer of trainings or coachings? First, you should examine your training sessions specifically for breaks: How short are your learning units? How many breaks do your participants have? As a rough rule of thumb, you can remember: the more breaks, the better! Of course, this applies to in-person events just as much as to online trainings.
You make especially good use of the study results with microlearning: with this learning method, breaks are virtually built in. After all, the principle mentioned above, "practice – break – practice – break," fits the microlearning idea of learning in small chunks perfectly.
This study is also further proof that blended learning is better than purely in-person learning or purely online learning. Here too, breaks are an essential part of the learning concept: instead of an 8-hour seminar day, you divide your learning content into in-person parts and e-learning content. This automatically builds breaks between the learning segments.
The most suitable blended learning model is the jumper, in combination with micro-learning units. With this model, you create as many breaks as possible and learning over a longer period of time. It looks something like this:
The blended learning model "Springer": alternating in-person and online content.
Conclusion
Learning does not happen only while practicing, but above all during the breaks in which the brain processes and consolidates new information.
The results of the study clearly show that short learning phases with regular breaks are particularly effective. While we pause, the brain repeats what has been learned in the background and thus continues to improve our skills.
For training and continuing education, this means an important consequence: instead of planning long learning blocks without interruption, content should be deliberately divided into smaller units. Breaks are not wasted time; they are a central part of the learning process.
Anyone who deliberately combines learning phases, breaks, and repetition creates a learning structure that corresponds to scientific findings and sustainably improves learning success.
Frequently asked questions and answers
Why are breaks so important when learning?
Breaks are important because the brain continues to process new information even when you are not actively practicing. During learning breaks, content can be consolidated and skills improved. That is why breaks are not idle time, but an effective part of the learning process.
What does the spacing effect mean in learning?
The spacing effect describes how learning becomes more sustainable when repetitions are spread across several points in time. Instead of practicing content once for a long time, it is more effective to combine short learning phases with breaks and later repetitions. This helps information stay in memory longer.
What does the study on learning during breaks show?
The study shows that the brain repeats what was previously practiced during short breaks while awake. This so-called "waking replay" helps improve skills even though no active practice is taking place. Learning progress therefore happens not only during practice, but also in the breaks in between.
How can trainers sensibly integrate breaks into learning concepts?
Trainers can divide learning content into short units and deliberately schedule regular breaks. Microlearning formats or blended learning concepts are especially suitable, with learning phases, practice, breaks, and repetition alternating. This makes the learning process more practical and sustainable for everyday use.
Updated on 09/03/2026
