Sleep and Memory

For a long time, sleep was regarded as a period when the brain simply switched off. Research now shows that it is remarkably active throughout the night. During deep sleep, the brain appears to replay and strengthen memories formed during the day. Information is gradually transferred from short-term to long-term storage. Dreaming may also help us process emotions and connect unrelated ideas. This could explain why solutions to problems sometimes appear after a good night's rest. Conversely, a lack of sleep impairs both learning and decision-making. Students who stay up all night before an exam may therefore be undermining their efforts. Protecting sleep is one of the simplest ways to improve how well we learn.