How to Develop a Superior Memory via Sleep
Scientists have long figured out that sleep has an important role in processing and storing memories in the brain. The theory came when a study in 1924, headed by Jenkins and Dallenbach from Cornell University, found that people significantly improved their memory of a list of syllables if they sleep in between studying and testing than if they stayed awake. More studies came, showing similar results.
Scientific Evidence on the Role of Sleep to Memory
It was long believed that a specific stage of sleep, called the ‘slow-wave’ sleep is responsible for enhancing memories of visual images. In a 2010 study published in the journal Science, participants were tasked to recall the locations of images shown on a grid. The images were accompanied with their corresponding sounds. For instance, an image of a cat would appear with a ‘meow’ while an image of a teapot would appear with a whistling sound. Then, participants went to sleep. Scientists had to put wires on their head so they can measure the different phases of sleep. When the participants reached the slow-wave phase, the researchers played some of the sounds from the images shown to the participants as they study their locations. When they woke up, they were asked to trace the actual location of the images in the grid. The researchers were surprised to find that participants had a superior memory of the images whose sounds were played during the slow-wave sleep as compared to the other images.
Does the ability of sleep to enhance memory limited to visual stimuli alone? Well, a more recent study (2012) published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, by Antony, Gobel, and colleagues, it was shown that sleep also improves the memory of a new skill! In this study, participants learnt to play a musical sequence on a piano. The researchers found that participants had better memory of the musical piece if it was played to them during the slow-wave phase.
What do these studies imply?
Perhaps, the studies mentioned above make it clear to us that learning does not simply end once you’ve closed the book. Memories of either visual information or a skill can be strengthened even during sleep, particularly during the slow-wave phase. These findings can be applied in schools, for instance, when helping students retain the knowledge obtained during a classroom lecture.
We should also remember that the benefits of the slow-wave sleep are not limited to learning locations of an image, or memorising a musical piece. It is also applicable to many other types of learning. For example, if you are learning a new language, it can be helpful to make a recording of the lecture and play it quietly while you sleep at night to improve your memory.
Past studies suggest that even smells can affect the consolidation of memory during sleep. In a 2007 study published in the journal Science, researchers asked the participants to play a memory card game while the smell of roses wafted through a special face mask. Later that night, the same smell was delivered to some of the participants. The results show that those who smelled the scent of rose during the memory card game and at night while they were sleeping improved their performance on remembering card pairs than the group who smelled nothing.
See, sleep doesn’t simply relax us, it also strengthens our memory! So the next time you prepare for an exam or perhaps a speaking engagement, you know what to do.
Dear Readers,
How might we find ways in improving our memory if we have difficulty with sleep? Alternatively, how can we improve our ability to fall asleep to combat our memory directly?
Share your idea’s by posting a comment below!
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