Yes, napping can help memory. Sleep gives the brain a chance to process new information and can help stabilize memories. Dreaming during sleep may even be better — studies have shown that REM sleep following an activity, especially if that activity is part of the dream, can improve the cognitive process and memory retention.
Sleepy time:
- Students who study hard before bed or take a nap after an afternoon study session are more likely to retain the studied information.
- The University of California, San Diego conducted a study and found that people who sleep six or seven hours per night tend to live the longest.
- Some research indicates that a lack of sleep can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, even resulting in death.
- Sleep also may help the healing process. One study found that a lack of sleep prevented rats from healing as quickly from burns.