Citation

Graves EA. J. Exp. Psychol. 1936; 19(3): 316-322.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1936, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0057827

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of interpolated periods of various lengths upon the retention of nonsense syllables as measured by the percentage savings method, for 24, 48, 72 and 144 hour intervals (1) when the learning is done just before retiring, and (2) when the learning is done in the morning upon awakening. One subject participated in the learning. The results indicate that learning nonsense syllables before sleeping has a beneficial effect upon retention as compared with learning immediately upon awakening for periods of 72, 96 and 144 hours but not for 24 and 48 hours. When the difference in retention between sleeping and waking periods became reliable (from 72 hours on) the relative variability for the waking period became markedly greater than for the sleeping period. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)