10 young (< 40 yr.) and 10 elderly (> 60 yr.) adults recalled previously memorized paired associates over a long series of trials. Practice was either massed or distributed. Reaction time decreased for both groups at the same rate. Spacing of trials did not affect the younger subjects’ pattern of learning. The elderly subjects’ learning curves showed the classical effects of warm-up, reminiscence, and work decrement. Distribution of practice was seen to affect momentary level of performance rather than actual degree of learning.
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