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Nap Your Way to Better Memory
by
findingDulcinea Staff
A new study recommends catching some midday shut-eye, as cat napping may aid memory.
30-Second Summary
A mere six-minute nap could have beneficial effects, according to a team of German scientists.
In a study published in New Scientist magazine and covered by the BBC, the scientists claim “ultra-brief” sleep could stimulate memory processing in the brain. In their experiment the scientists asked a group of students to remember a set of words, then gave them an hour-long break before testing.
Some of the students were allowed to sleep for six minutes during that hour, and those students did better on the memory test.
The effects of the midday snooze have been studied by others as well. Earlier this month, The Washington Post published a story on how 45-minute naps aid the memory. Sleep can help “set these declarative memories and make them easier to recall,” according to researchers.
Last year a Harvard School of Public Health study claimed that naps may boost cardiac health. The findings conclude that the benefit of naps is most pronounced in working men who nap for 30 minutes a day, at least three days a week. They have a 67 percent lower chance of dying from cardiac arrest than those who do not nap.
Although findings vary from one study to another, the general consensus is that naps are good for people.
Although the afternoon siesta customary in some European countries has yet to catch on in America, businesses like the New York City-based MetroNaps offer nap solutions to companies who want to improve their employees’ productivity.
In a study published in New Scientist magazine and covered by the BBC, the scientists claim “ultra-brief” sleep could stimulate memory processing in the brain. In their experiment the scientists asked a group of students to remember a set of words, then gave them an hour-long break before testing.
Some of the students were allowed to sleep for six minutes during that hour, and those students did better on the memory test.
The effects of the midday snooze have been studied by others as well. Earlier this month, The Washington Post published a story on how 45-minute naps aid the memory. Sleep can help “set these declarative memories and make them easier to recall,” according to researchers.
Last year a Harvard School of Public Health study claimed that naps may boost cardiac health. The findings conclude that the benefit of naps is most pronounced in working men who nap for 30 minutes a day, at least three days a week. They have a 67 percent lower chance of dying from cardiac arrest than those who do not nap.
Although findings vary from one study to another, the general consensus is that naps are good for people.
Although the afternoon siesta customary in some European countries has yet to catch on in America, businesses like the New York City-based MetroNaps offer nap solutions to companies who want to improve their employees’ productivity.
Headline Link: ‘Six-minute Nap “May Boost Memory”’
According to a new study conducted by German scientists, a short nap may aid memory. Participants in the study who took a short cat nap were more successful in memory tests than those who did not. "To our knowledge, this demonstrates for the first time that an ultra-brief sleep episode provides an effective memory enhancement," wrote Dr. Olaf Lahl, who led the group.
Source: The BBC
Naps might benefit the heart as well as the brain. A study published last year by Harvard scientists found that Greek working men who napped regularly reduced their risk of cardiac arrest by 67 percent. An article in the San Francisco Chronicle points out that taking a nap each day may be difficult in America, unlike in Europe, where afternoon siestas are part of the culture. “It’s just one study. It needs confirmation,” said Dr. Dimitrios Trichopoulos, who supervised the tests. “You can’t go to your boss with this and claim you need to take a siesta.”
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
"Is it time to dream up a fresh theory of sleep? We are all familiar with the concept of a power nap, but it could be the very process of falling asleep that's beneficial to the brain. Perhaps sleep itself is a mere side effect," begins the New Scientist's story on this phenomenon. The full article is available online for a fee.
Source: New Scientist
A story in The Washington Post covers a study conducted at the Harvard Medical School's Center for Sleep and Cognition that extols the benefits of napping. Researchers concluded a 45-minute midday nap helps people remember facts, especially if they are motivated to learn.
Source: The Washington Post
Reaction: The business of sleep
MetroNaps, which has its offices in the Empire State Building, specializes in helping clients nap. Visitors are invited to nap in specially designed “EnergyPods” that help clients sleep with tranquil music, and wake them up using “a gentle combination of light and vibration.” Potential nappers are invited to make a reservation or just drop in. The business provides other services as well, such as energy assessments and seminars for the workplace.
Source: MetroNaps
Reference: ‘Rest Assured: The Web Can Help You Sleep Better’
FindingDulcinea has a complete guide to getting a good night’s sleep, including Web sites that offer advice.
Source: findingDulcinea
The American Sleep Association is dedicated to improving public awareness of sleep disorders and promoting sleep health.
Source: American Sleep Association
Related Link: Cat naps preferred by whales
Scientists have discovered that sperm whales may use only short naps to get their required sleep. After tagging and studying 59 whales, scientists observed that they appeared to be sleeping in short bursts while performing slow vertical “drift dives.”
Source: The BBC
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