Which statement defines distributed practice as used in motor learning?

• A. The rest between trials is less than the practice time
• B. The rest between trials is equal to or greater than the practice time
• C. Practice time equals rest time within a trial
• D. Tasks are practiced in a fixed blocked order

Answer: (B)

Distributed practice means spacing practice trials with rest intervals that are equal to or longer than the time spent actively practicing. This spacing lets the learner process and consolidate motor memory between attempts and reduces fatigue, which often enhances retention and transfer of the skill. If rest is shorter than the practice time, performance and learning tend to suffer due to fatigue and limited consolidation. So the statement that the rest between trials is equal to or greater than the practice time best captures distributed practice. (Blocked practice, by contrast, focuses on repeating the same task in a fixed order and doesn’t address the spacing between trials.)