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How a Short Nap Can Improve Your Memory, Learning, and Cognitive Functions
Daytime napping provides various advantages such as relaxation, reduced fatigue, and improved mood
Many studies have shown that a night’s sleep benefits recent memory, learning, and cognitive functions.
Two other experiments sought to determine whether this effect is achieved with daytime naps.
A study showed that napping in the afternoon improved all cognitive performance, including memory and learning.
Napping and memory
Napping seems helpful for all types of memory, either procedural, declarative, or short-term.
Previously, it has been found that a good night’s sleep can help improve your memory.
The study shows taking daytime naps can also help improve memory. Participants performed better on tests than those who had not taken a nap.
A second study shows how taking a nap affects word recall, and they found people who took longer naps did better on the word recall test than those who took shorter naps. They also found that people who didn’t take a nap did worse on the word recall test than those who either took a brief nap or a long nap.
