Experiment

Does practice make perfect?

Have you ever wondered whether practice really helps you get better at something? In this experiment, you can measure for yourself how much practice helps you to memorize movement sequences better.

How does it work?

You have different types of memory, and each is processed by a different part of the brain. When you practice something frequently, specific areas of your brain become active. These include, for example, the basal ganglia and the cerebellum, which are responsible for learning movement sequences. Another part, the hippocampus, is important for consciously remembering things, such as recalling our last vacation.

Sometimes, people don’t remember exactly how they learned a movement (such as riding a bike or swimming), but they can still perform it and even improve when they practice more.

Evaluation

Circle all the places where you have touched the edge of the star. Count how many times this has happened – this is the amountof mistakes. Write your results in the diagrams.

  • In the first diagram, place an “X” next to the number of mistakes you have made. Example: You made 40 mistakes on the first attempt and only 35 on the second. The diagram should then look like this.

  • In the second diagram, place an “X” next to the number of seconds you needed. Example: The first attempt took you 250 seconds, the second attempt only 230 seconds. The diagram should then look like this. What do you see?

  • How can you tell if you have improved with the repetitions?

Time to explore

  • Repeat the experiment the next day 3-5 more times. Record your results in the charts again. What changed? Do you notice a difference from the previous day’s results? Does the graph show that you practiced? Or does it show that you forgot?

  • Invite others to try the test and compare your results. Are there big differences or similarities? Why might that be?

  • Does practicing with a simple shape help you draw more complicated shapes in the mirror? How could you test this?

  • Create your own shape and try to trace it!