July 25, 2006
Power Naps Enhance Memory
Evidence is mounting that sleep even a nap appears to enhance information processing and learning. New experiments by NIMH grantee Alan Hobson, M.D., Robert Stickgold, Ph.D., and colleagues at Harvard University show that a midday snooze reverses information overload and that a 20 percent overnight improvement in learning a motor skill is largely traceable to a late stage of sleep that some early risers might be missing. Overall, their studies suggest that the brain uses a night's sleep to consolidate the memories of habits, actions and skills learned during the day.
ScienceDaily: "Power Nap" Prevents Burnout; Morning Sleep Perfects A Skill
