Different nap durations produce varying effects, but one study suggests naps can improve cognition.
wanted to determine whether people who napped at least once a week and people who rarely or never napped had differences in nap outcomes, including memory consolidation processes that contribute to perceptual learning.
The authors found that four weeks of nap restriction among nap+ participants did not decrease the cognitive benefits they got from naps. And four weeks of nap practice among nap- participants did not boost nap-related perceptual learning. It’s possible that the intervention wasn’t long enough, but the results suggest that the benefits of napping may vary across different individuals. Some people are nappers, and some people aren’t, says Mednick, who was involved in the study.
According to Spencer, naps can be good for anyone, but they are particularly beneficial for people with high sleep needs , individuals who have lost sleep due to shift work and those who expect to lose sleep at night because they are about to work late. The duration of a nap depends on what you want to get out of it, says Mednick. For instance, a 20-minute nap is helpful for increasing alertness and attention, while a 90-minute nap will get you through all the sleep stages, she adds.
If you want to take a nap to improve your memory performance, you need to sleep long enough to reach and experience the slow-wave phase. Therefore, a nap of about 45 minutes would be ideal, says Spencer. Don’t nap for too long or too late in the day though — otherwise, you might have a harder time falling asleep at night.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Lea Michele Honors Cory Monteith On Stage Singing 'Glee' TributeThe actress paid tribute to the late actor with an emotional performance in his memory.
Read more »
Shift From Seller Enablement to Revenue EnablementSales enablement is evolving from enabling sellers to enabling revenue teams. Watch this on-demand webinar to learn how to leverage data from marketing, sales, and customer success to fuel the revenue engine: GartnerSales
Read more »
Dua Lipa is Embracing '70s and '80s-Era StyleThe singer ditched her usual Y2K aesthetic to take a trip down fashion's memory lane.
Read more »
Feds: $401M will add high-speed internet to rural US areasRural areas in 11 states, including Texas, will have improved internet access for things like telehealth, remote learning and workforce development.
Read more »
These Advancements Are Improving Prognoses for People With Bladder CancerRefinements in chemotherapies, radiation treatments, and surgery are improving prognoses for people with bladder cancer.
Read more »