Better Sleep Dark Therapy

Dark therapy – Snoozle 101 – Better sleep improves learning

schooldaysRemember when nap time was part of school, and sleeping better sleep got you a gold star? Conversely, remember when high school and university came along, and better sleep became an afterthought? Well… The kindergarteners had it right – it’s been shown in multiple studies that sleep has a major impact on our ability to learn and retain information.

With regard to students, one study showed that earlier school start times, while economically justified, might have a negative academic impact. By delaying early classes by as little 1 hour (from 7:30 to 8:30), math scores on standardized tests increased by 1%. Reading? 2%.

It’s true for adults too. Non-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep prepares the brain for learning. A lack of REM sleep can reduce the brain’s ability to learn and retain new information by up to 40%. Less sleep, interrupted sleep, or shallower sleep all contribute to this loss in ability.

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The net result of these studies and many more, dating back decades? Sleep is important to learning. It’s fundamental to memory. And it’s required for strong cognitive function. Better sleep = better learning. And you can bet your nap on that.

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