What effect do breaks during study sessions have on retention?

Breaks during study sessions significantly enhance concentration and facilitate memory consolidation, which is why this answer is correct. When studying, the brain processes and encodes information into long-term memory. Taking breaks allows the brain to relax and shift focus, which in turn promotes deeper cognitive processing. Research in cognitive psychology supports that short breaks help to mitigate cognitive overload, reduce fatigue, and allow for the consolidation of the information just reviewed.

This process of memory consolidation is crucial, as it helps to strengthen and stabilize the neural connections related to the material learned, making it easier to recall later. Ultimately, incorporating breaks effectively supports learning by balancing periods of intense focus with mental recovery, leading to improved retention of information.

Other options suggest either negative outcomes associated with breaks or misplacement of timing, which do not align with established research on memory and learning strategies.