Role of Napping for Learning Across the Lifespan

Purpose of Review Napping is a common behavior across age groups. While studies have shown a benefit of overnight sleep on memory consolidation, given differences in nap frequency, composition, and intent, it is important to consider whether naps serve a memory function across development and aging....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current sleep medicine reports 2020-12, Vol.6 (4), p.290-297
Main Authors: Jones, Bethany J., Spencer, Rebecca M. C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age groups
Aging
Cardiology
Family Medicine
General Practice
Internal Medicine
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Memory
Neurology
Older people
Otorhinolaryngology
Physiology
Psychiatry
Section Editor
Sleep
Sleep and Learning (M Scullin
Topical Collection on Sleep and Learning
Young adults
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Summary:Purpose of Review Napping is a common behavior across age groups. While studies have shown a benefit of overnight sleep on memory consolidation, given differences in nap frequency, composition, and intent, it is important to consider whether naps serve a memory function across development and aging. Recent Findings We review studies of the role of naps in declarative, emotional, and motor procedural memory consolidation across age groups. Recent findings in both developmental and aging populations find that naps benefit learning of many tasks but may require additional learning or sleep bouts compared to young adult populations. These studies have also identified variations in nap physiology based on the purpose of the nap, timing of the nap, or age. Summary These studies lend to our understanding of the function of sleep, and the potential for naps as an intervention for those with reduced nighttime sleep or learning impairments.
ISSN:2198-6401
2198-6401
DOI:10.1007/s40675-020-00193-9