The right time to learn: mechanisms and optimization of spaced learning

Smolen, Paul; Zhang, Yili; Byrne, John H.

doi:10.1038/nrn.2015.18

Cited by 240 publications

(238 citation statements)

References 112 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

205

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…First of all, because of continuous testing, the achieved training intensity per training day is substantially higher compared with conventional operant tasks as well as maze-based tasks. The lack of a retention period in between training sessions, as present in other tasks, may also have affected learning rate as described previously (Smolen et al 2016) and thereby the duration of the task. However, given the difference in nature of the present task and "conventional" tasks, it is difficult to draw conclusions on the effect of the lack of a retention period in between training sessions on learning rates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring discrimination- and reversal learning in mouse models within 4 days and without prior food deprivation

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Many neurological and psychiatric disorders are characterized by deficits in cognitive flexibility. Modeling cognitive flexibility in mice enables the investigation of mechanisms underlying these deficits. The majority of currently available behavioral tests targeting this cognitive domain are reversal learning tasks that require scheduled food restriction, extended training periods and labor-intensive, and stress-inducing animal handling. Here, we describe a novel 4-day (4-d) continuously running task measuring discrimination-and reversal learning in an automated home cage (CognitionWall DL/RL task) that largely eliminates these limitations. In this task, mice can earn unlimited number of food rewards by passing through the correct hole of the three-holed CognitionWall. To assess the validity and sensitivity of this novel task, the performance of C57BL/6J mice, amyloid precursor protein/presenilin1 transgenic (APP/PS1) mice, a-calmodulin kinase-II (aCaMKII) T305D knock-in mice, and mice with an orbitofrontal cortex lesion were examined. We found that C57BL/6J mice reach stable performance levels within the 4 d of the task, while experiencing only slight reductions in weight and no major effects on circadian rhythm. The task detected learning deficits in APP/PS1 transgenic and aCaMKII T305D mutant mice. Additionally, we established that the orbitofrontal cortex underlies reversal learning performance in our task. Because of its short duration and the absence of food deprivation and concurrent weight loss, this novel automated home-cage task substantially improves comprehensive preclinical assessment of cognitive functions in mouse models of psychiatric and neurological disorders and also enables analysis during specific developmental stages.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring discrimination- and reversal learning in mouse models within 4 days and without prior food deprivation

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In cognitive psychology, we often separately study explicit versus implicit learning [3], and we also often separate learning that occurs with or without feedback on the correctness or effectiveness of one’s actions, which we refer to as reinforcement [4]. Learning can be accompanied by a change in neural processes [5], an alteration in neuronal synapses [6], a signal of meaningful reward [7], and a reframing of one’s expectations [8], to name a few.…”

Section: Learning As a Network Phenomenonmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Network Neuroscience of Human Learning: Potential to Inform Quantitative Theories of Brain and Behavior

Bassett

Mattar

2017

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Humans adapt their behavior to their external environment in a process often facilitated by learning. Efforts to describe learning empirically can be complemented by quantitative theories that map changes in neurophysiology to changes in behavior. In this review we highlight recent advances in network science that offer a sets of tools and a general perspective that may be particularly useful in understanding types of learning that are supported by distributed neural circuits. We describe recent applications of these tools to neuroimaging data that provide unique insights into adaptive neural processes, the attainment of knowledge, and the acquisition of new skills, forming a network neuroscience of human learning. While promising, the tools have yet to be linked to the well-formulated models of behavior that are commonly utilized in cognitive psychology. We argue that continued progress will require the explicit marriage of network approaches to neuroimaging data and quantitative models of behavior.

show abstract

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Spacing can be accomplished in various ways. The expanding schedule involves shorter initial intervals followed by longer intervals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Spacing of Practice on Learning Brand Name and Generic Drugs

Terenyi

Anksorus

Persky

2018

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective. To test the impact of schedules of retrieval practice on learning brand and generic name drug information in a self-paced course. Methods. Students completed weekly quizzes on brand and generic name conversions for 100 commonly prescribed drugs. Each student completed part of the drug list on a schedule of equal, expanding, or contracting spacing, one practice (massed) or study only in a partial block design. Results. On measures of long-term retention, the contracting spacing schedule led to superior retention (67%) compared to the massed practice (50%) and study-only condition (46%); contracting practice also was significantly higher than expanding practice (58%,) or equal practice (59%). Overall performance decreased by almost 50% (final exam 95%, long-term retention 55%) over a 6-week period. Conclusion. A contracting spacing schedule was the most effective schedule of practice, and all spacing schedules were superior to massed practice or study-only conditions.

show abstract

The right time to learn: mechanisms and optimization of spaced learning

Cited by 240 publications

References 112 publications

Measuring discrimination- and reversal learning in mouse models within 4 days and without prior food deprivation

Measuring discrimination- and reversal learning in mouse models within 4 days and without prior food deprivation

A Network Neuroscience of Human Learning: Potential to Inform Quantitative Theories of Brain and Behavior

Impact of Spacing of Practice on Learning Brand Name and Generic Drugs

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About