Do you deal with the topic of learning a lot? Then you certainly know that breaks are important for learning success. But it wasn't until June 2021 that brain waves during learning were investigated in an exciting experiment to challenge this thesis. 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's why good training programs are structured so that learning takes place in short sections. Especially when learning skills, the rule is: practice – break – practice – break.
Perhaps you also know the spacing effect (or spacing interval effect): this states that the longer ago things and events occurred, the more likely we are to forget them. That is why we should incorporate repetitions into our learning, ideally at increasingly larger intervals. In between, breaks take place again and again.
This effect is particularly relevant in today's modern working world. Short learning phases with conscious breaks can be integrated into the daily work routine much more easily than long training sessions. This increases not only learning performance, but also the willingness to continue learning regularly.
However, the fact that the actual learning through repetition takes place in the brain during these learning breaks was only recently proven in a study by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in the USA. 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.
For those who want to take a shortcut: We explain the study in German and summarize what the results mean for trainers and coaches.
Summary of the Study
In the experiment, test subjects were asked to type the numbers 41324 on a keyboard with one hand as quickly and as accurately as possible. To do this, they repeatedly had 10 seconds of practice time followed by 10 seconds of rest. You can imagine that this is a typical task that you get better and better at through practice. The question now is: What happens in the subjects' brains during the break?
To answer this, brain waves (in the hippocampus and neocortex) were measured throughout the entire time. The authors of the study illustrated the result in this very vivid graphic:
Open access graphic, 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” take place in the 10-second breaks: Although – or rather because – we no longer practice during this time, our skill level increases during this break. And significantly more so than in the actual practice time! The brain illustration shows that during the break, some areas work heavily and repeat what has been learned (“waking replay”).
Another note: The term is “waking replay”, meaning repetition in the waking state. It is well known that we process experiences in our sleep and thus learn, and this can be found in studies other than the one mentioned here. This study here is explicitly about breaks in the waking state.
Ideally, we use both breaks during the day and sleep at night to consolidate what we have learned.
What We Learn from the Study for Training Courses
How can you use the results of the study for your everyday life – especially as a trainer and organizer of training courses or coaching sessions? On the one hand, you should examine your training courses specifically for breaks: How short are your learning units? How many breaks do your participants have? Roughly speaking, remember: the more breaks, the better! Of course, this applies to in-person events just as much as to online training.
You can put the study results to particularly good use with microlearning: with this learning method, breaks are virtually pre-programmed. This is because the above-mentioned principle "practice – break – practice – break" fits perfectly with the microlearning concept of learning in small bites.
On the other hand, this study is also proof that blended learning is better than pure classroom learning or pure online learning. Breaks are an essential part of the learning concept here too: instead of an 8-hour day seminar, you divide your learning content into classroom sessions and e-learning content. This automatically builds breaks in between the learning sections.
The most suitable blended learning model is the "Springer" (Knight), in combination with micro-learning units. With this model, you ensure as many breaks as possible and learning over a longer period of time. It looks something like this:
The blended learning model "Springer": Alternating classroom and online content.
Conclusion
Learning happens not only during practice, but especially during breaks, when 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 take a break, the brain repeats what has been learned in the background, further improving our skills.
For training and further education, this has an important consequence: instead of planning long learning blocks without interruption, content should deliberately be divided into smaller units. Breaks are not lost time, but a key component of the learning process.
Anyone who systematically combines learning phases, breaks, and repetitions 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 not actively practicing. During learning breaks, content can be consolidated and skills improved. Therefore, 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 distributed over several points in time. Instead of practicing content for one long session, it is more effective to combine short learning phases with breaks and later repetitions. This helps information stay in the memory longer.
What does the study show about learning during breaks?
The study shows that the brain repeats what was previously practiced during short breaks in a waking state. This so-called "waking replay" helps to improve skills even though active practice is not currently happening. Learning progress therefore occurs not only during practice, but also in the breaks in between.
How can trainers integrate breaks meaningfully into learning concepts?
Trainers can split learning content into short units and deliberately schedule regular breaks. Particularly suitable are microlearning formats or blended learning concepts in which learning phases, practice, breaks, and repetitions alternate. This makes the learning process more suitable for everyday life and more sustainable.
