LEARNING AND FORGETTING IN MENTAL AND MECHANICAL TASKS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

This study compares learning and forgetting of mental and mechanical t asks. Fifty-eight subjects performed a simple mechanical and complex m ental task repetitively. After completing half the repetitions on each task type, each subject took a break ranging from 2 to 6 weeks before completing the remaining repetitions. The learning and forgetting pro cesses of the participating subjects are analyzed by fitting appropria te models. The results of hypothesis testing regarding the relationshi p between the learning and forgetting models of mechanical and mental tasks are reported and discussed.