Humans are capable of rapidly extracting regularities from environmental input, a process known as statistical learning. This type of learning typically occurs automatically, through passive exposure to environmental input. The presumed function of statistical learning is to optimize processing, allowing the brain to more accurately predict and…

The study, with four mildly retarded primary-age students, found that constant time delay was an effective instructional strategy when students were taught to read sight words and that incidental learning also occurred as each student acquired some nontargeted spelling information. (Author/DB)