Does sleep improve memory?
On One Hand: Sleep and Memory ConsolidationAccording to a 2005 study published in the journal Neuroscience, sleep plays a key role in aiding memory. The study revealed that, after subjects learned a certain activity, the part of the brain corresponding to that type of memory demonstrated high activity during sleep. To doctors at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, this phenomenon demonstrates that sleep helps to ground the memory more deeply in the unconscious, making it more permanent.On the Other: Sleep and Memory CapacityStudies have shown that previously learned knowledge may become better ingrained through sleep; however, sleep does not necessarily allow you to increase your capacity or speed for learning. In other words, sleep improves your ability to retain and consolidate information, but not necessarily your ability to increase your overall memory.Bottom LineThere is strong evidence demonstrating that sleep is key to consolidating previously learned memories.
