Can’t solve the problem? Sleep on it – supported by science, here is the best nap for better thinking

Have you heard the saying “If you can’t solve the problem, just sleep on it”? This is not only a random advice to calm you before bedtime, learning proves how a dream can help you think clearly and solve the problem.

In the last test Published in the Journal of Sleep Research, researchers have examined how a specific type of sleep, afternoon naps help in creative problem solving.

Researchers conducted problems to solve problems in a group of 58 people under 30 years of age with Texas State University. Half of the participants could take a two -hour afternoon nap before solving a puzzle, which they were unable to solve before, and the other half tried puzzle without sleep.

The results showed that people who napped before solving problems working better than those who did not sleep. On average, the sleep group solved 43% of problems, while the group wakes up solved only 15%.

Scientists came to the conclusion that this is because a dream, especially a type that covers the REM phase, helps people in the same transfer to solve problems that could not be done before the nap. Similar transfers are the ability to use insights from another problem to solve a new, related problem.

Fast eye movement (REM) is a phase in which your eyes move quickly in different directions, and brain activity becomes as high as when you don’t sleep. “This stage of sleep [REM] It can play a key role in the best use of previous experiences by establishing and strengthening associations, which are not easily visible in our waking up, “wrote scientists.

“My previous research focused on understanding how memories change during sleep. However, the reorganization of knowledge that occurs during memory consolidation undoubtedly also affects other aspects of Poznań. I was particularly interested in the initiation and/or strengthening of connections between new connections between new connections between new connections between new connections between new connections between new connections between new connections and old memories can help solve problems ” he said The author of the study Carmen E. Westerberg, professor at Texas State University.

“The main amount is that if you have a difficult problem that you can’t solve, processes occurring during sleep can give you insight after waking up, which can help solve the problem,” added Westerberg.