Memory 'is boosted by sleep'

New research has revealed that the advice to sleep on a problem appears to be spot-on, as memory and brain functions are enhanced after a good night's rest.

The study results presented at the Forum of European Neuroscience meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, showed individuals who had eight hours in bed were better at completing a number of skills tasks than those who were deprived of sleep.

Individuals who had some quality mattress-time also showed improved brain activity when given a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan.

Dr Sophie Schwartz, from the University of Geneva, said: "Our results revealed that a period of sleep following a new experience can consolidate and improve subsequent effects of learning from the experience."

She added that the improvement comes from changes in brain activity in parts of the brain that deal with learned material.

In June 2005, ScienceDaily reported on a study in the Neuroscience journal that shows sleep triggers brain changes that help memory.


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