Which of the following is a benefit of the rehearsal effect?

The rehearsal effect refers to the positive impact of practicing or mentally visualizing a skill or movement before executing it in a physical setting. One of the primary benefits of this approach is the improvement of familiarity with the activity. By repeatedly going through the motions in one’s mind or through actual practice, an individual becomes more comfortable with the movements involved. This enhanced familiarity can lead to better coordination, technique, and overall performance when it comes time to actually perform the activity.

This improved familiarity is particularly important in sports and physical activities, where the ability to execute skills with confidence and accuracy can greatly influence performance outcomes. The rehearsal effect not only helps in achieving a smoother execution of skills but also aids in mental preparation, reducing performance anxiety and enhancing focus.

Regarding the other options, increasing muscle size is more related to resistance training and hypertrophy, flexibility relates to the range of motion improvements typically achieved through specific stretching or mobility work, and reducing the need for a warm-up contradicts the importance of preparing the body for exercise, irrespective of rehearsal. Each of these aspects is crucial in its own right, but they do not pertain to the rehearsal effect’s primary advantage of enhancing familiarity with an activity.