By contributing author Paul Li, a neuroscience graduate student at Columbia.
Whenever I am studying for an exam I inevitably take short naps in between my studies - just as long as I have a study-buddy or an alarm clock to wake me up. It never occurred to me that the nap might be beneficial beyond simply resting and re-energizing my brain. 
But a recent study has shown that naps, in this case a 90-minute snooze, can help consolidate memories and promote long-term retention.
In the study, participants began learning a complex thumb-tapping sequence. The participants were then divided into two groups: one took a nap and the other did not. When tested later that evening, the group that took a nap during the afternoon remembered more of the thumb-tapping sequence than the group that hadn’t napped. This suggests that while napping, the brain was working to strengthen and consolidate the newly forming memories. With that in mind, a power nap can be helpful for those who lack a good night’s sleep or want to perform better on their next exam.
2 Comments
As a neuroscience graduate, you might be interested in a technology that helps taking naps. You can have a look at http://www.napsounds.com/relaxation.html for more info on how brainwave entrainment and NLP help sleep and memorization.
Sebastien, NapSounds
Hi Paul. Naps are great for students, but they also are imperative for parents who want to balance life and work. Personally, I like to stay up a little later at night so I can enjoy some quiet time after the kids go to bed. That makes me tired the next day at work. Several years ago I was searching for direction in my life and decided to invest in a personal coach. I discussed my job dissatisfaction with her and she gave me a tip that had an immediate effect on my life.
She asked if I took advantage of the 15 minute breaks offered by my company. I didn’t so she suggested that I sit in my car during that break and shut my eyes. I wondered how much of a difference 15 minutes could make and if I could truly relax enough to even fall asleep in that amount of time. But, I was willing to give it a try. Sure enough, the coach was right. This 15 minutes makes a huge difference in my energy level and attitude. I come back into the building feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the next few hours.
Check out my blog at http://buzz.prevention.com/community/category/kmwaters for tips on how anyone can incorporate napping into their day.
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