There have been many studies that reveal that a nap during the day can be beneficial to improve memory. A study in Germany reported in the latest edition of the journal New Scientist was supported by the facts. However, recent research is interesting because it indicates that napping in a very short time was that six minutes is enough to improve the ability to remember things. Very short sleep can trigger a memory processing in the brain.
It is a team of researchers from the University of Dusseldorf in Germany, led by Dr Olaf Lahl, which reveals the theory. They are doing tests to see how far the bed in a short time effect terhdap memory. Researchers involved a group of students who were asked to remember a series of words and then given time off one hour prior to testing.
On the sidelines of an hour break, some students are allowed to sleep for six minutes, while others remain in the awake condition. The result was beyond expectations, those who had turned out to demonstrate the ability to sleep better in memory tests.
The results of this research directly responded by an expert from England who expressed doubt. Professor Jim Horne, from the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University believes that human beings need to sleep a longer time to improve his memory.
Some research has indeed been shown that sleep-wake cycle plays an important role in improving memory. Some theories also mentioned that memory processing occurs during deep sleep or deep sleep, a phase which usually will not begin until at least 20 minutes after sleep.
However, Dr Olaf Lahl and his team said it is possible that the moment of sleep can trigger a process in the brain that would continue regardless of how long a person awake.
In our knowledge, this demonstrates for the first time that a very brief sleep episode provides an effective increase in memory, writes Dr. Olaf in his report.
Professor Jim Horne comments that the research conducted by Dr. Olaf is fairly interesting even though he was not convinced that the effect is only on increasing the memory alone.
¨ The idea that memory can be improved only in six minutes is a quite unique finding and should be taken more carefully. There is sufficient evidence that memory processes may occur more than six minutes after sleep, ° he said.