New research suggests that sleep might be a crucial factor in improving learning power. Young adults who took a 90 minutes lunch break to nap were found to have improved learning power and a better memory ready for knowledge absorption. Prior research has linked sleep to better consolidation of memories after memorizing but alternative new studies have found sleep to have learning ability restoration powers. These studies have not yet been published but were presented at a science forum in San Diego. The study involved 39 young healthy adults grouped into 2. Both groups were to memorize 100 faces and names at a given time and then learn a different set of faces and names 6 hours later. The young adults that slept for 90 minutes were able to improve their performance on average after sleeping. Those who did not sleep had a decreased performance in the test (Rabin).

A 1995 survey found that 42% of people to have reported problems with falling and staying asleep. Insomnia, according to one Dr. Avidan, is not a diagnosis but rather a symptom pointing to an underlying health condition. There are numerous causes of insomnia and they continue to increase with age. Chronic insomnia can lead to a higher injury risk, confusion, impaired cognition and disturbed intellect and often presents with depression. Insomnia can be as a result of problematic occurrences while sleeping or as due to an underlying psychiatric or medical issue. Nonmedical insomnia can be treated by good sleep hygiene, avoiding heavy meals, alcohol, stimulants, liquid consumption and by exercising, getting optimal sunlight exposure and sleeping when sleepy. For other forms of insomnia, other successful remedies include behavioral therapy, sleeping pills and dietary aids(Brody).

Works Cited

Brody, Jane E. “Getting Older, Sleeping Less (Published 2017)”. Nytimes.Com, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/16/well/live/getting-older-sleeping-less.html.

Rabin, Roni Caryn. “Behavior: Napping Can Prime The Brain For Learning (Published 2010)”. Nytimes.Com, 2010, https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/health/research/23beha.html.