Napping might just seem like something we do as we get older – our bodies grow increasingly tired and they just can’t stay awake like they used to. Little did I know, these naps are actually beneficial to our brainpower.
According to aarp.com, research from the University of California, Berkeley is showing that naps actually make you smarter and can boost your ability to learn. Naps are the brain’s way of making room for new information.
Matthew Walker, a Berkeley professor of psychology and the lead investigator of the recent sleep study, explains that just 60 minutes of shut-eye can increase the learning ability significantly.
Americans should take note from the Europeans, who make a poignant effort to schedule naps (or siestas) into their busy workdays. The research is suggesting the advantages of this biphasic sleep schedule, wherein a good night's sleep and a solid midday siesta could increase intelligence.
On the other hand, all-nighters, which college students and busy mothers alike have the tendency to pull, can decrease our ability to learn by 40%. Certain brain regions shut down due to sleep deprivation.
Walker’s study supports his hypothesis that sleep clears the brain’s short-term memory storage, making way for more information.
So don’t denounce your naps anymore. They should be an important part your day.
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