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New Sleep Studies Prove Regular Sleep Schedules Critical To Student Performance

by T.O. Lawrence
11/08/2007

Researchers at Harvard and McGill Universities have recently discovered new connections between the functions of sleep and memory by studying the effects of sleep on a simple memorization exercise.

In this study published last May, researchers showed participants hierarchal pairs of different colored eggs on a computer screen, six eggs in all. The task of the participants is to memorize the order in which the computer arranged them: Aqua over coral, paisley over rainbow, etc. and to be retested on their recollection after various sleep periods.

The researchers found that most people can study these simple pairs for about 20 minutes and still be prepared to test on them a day later. But when it comes to choosing between two eggs not directly compared (Paisley was over rainbow but is it over coral?), recollections became much more difficult.

At least until they took a nap.

The study reports that participants who received a 20 minute rest period after memorizing the pairs scored much higher than those without. Researches found that the brain became aware of the larger picture it was missing while awake, testing connections between pairs not readily linked together.

So what does this mean for students? According to Liz Rachun, public relations coordinator for the University Health Center, they need to get more sleep, or more regular hours of it anyway.

“Students tend to get a lot of their sleep in short intervals,” said Rachun. “Not only does this fail to constitute a full, restful sleep period but it disrupts the body’s natural rhythm as well.”

Students should not take this to mean that naps are unacceptable, or even unhelpful, but they should not be used as a full night’s rest. Though many naps contain both the deep and REM sleep periods which help in learned memory (memorization of facts, languages, etc.) most stage 2 sleep which helps in learned motor tasks occurs during the second half of the night during a full sleep period.

“A full night’s rest is usually considered around six and a half to seven and a half hours of sleep,” said Patrick J. O’Connor, kinesiology professor at the University of Georgia, “Though individual needs can vary, this is right about where most students should be.”

Also, students who do take naps too often find it difficult to sleep at night as a result and may find it tricky to return their body to an acceptable sleep pattern. This can often occur with students who study all night for tests or for those who work late at night.

“My boyfriend worked all summer as a night baker at a local bakery,” said Caitlin Gleave, anthropology student at the University of Georgia. “His hours were messed up for weeks, and it took him hours lying in bed just to get to sleep.”

Darker blinds, no noise and no distractions are a few of the suggestions O’Connor gives for finding better sleep, as well as lessening stress levels and maintaining regular physical activity. But the best way to keep a good sleep pattern is to make it a habit and stick with it, maintaining one of our most essential and useful biological functions.

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