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Review
. 2025 Jan 10;17(1):e77230.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.77230. eCollection 2025 Jan.

A Review of Judgments of Learning and Executive Functions in Spaced Learning: The Enemy of Spacing?

Xuechen Yuan  1
Affiliations
Review

A Review of Judgments of Learning and Executive Functions in Spaced Learning: The Enemy of Spacing?

Xuechen Yuan. Cureus. .

Abstract

The benefit of the spacing effect is inherently hindered by perception bias in making judgments of learning (JOLs), but more insights might be found in the context of executive functions (EF), where it correlates with metacognitive strategies and cognitive loads. Thus, this article attempts to address the dilemma of the spacing effect by synthesizing both existing JOL and EF perspectives. This paper yields various mechanisms related to memory performance in spaced learning: delayed JOLs, JOL reactivity, overt retrieval, inhibition control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. All of these factors associate with the theory of mind, an important yet understudied social-cognitive skill in spaced learning which could shift our ways of thinking about spacing.

Keywords: delayed jol; executive functions; jol reactivity; judgments of learning; spacing effect.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

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