Do you find yourself often forgetting the things you swear you know? We all have been there, trying to remember a birthday or some random facts that everyone knows. Let me ask you another question. Would you say that you are someone who gets a lot of sleep, or maybe not enough sleep? Well, a study suggests that sleep can help with memory recall.
In the study, a group of teenage boys were put into four groups. Three of the groups had some sort of lack of sleep, and the fourth group had normal sleep. The boys who had slept a normal amount of time did better when it came to remembering facts, data, events, etc. than the boys that had little sleep. Although this study shows memory improvement in teenage boys, sleep is good for everyone. Many other studies suggest sleep helps with memory across many different age groups and genders.
Sleep improves memory because it helps you focus on what you are trying to learn, and solidify those memories, so that it is easier for you to retrieve them in the future.
So, next time you can’t remember your mom’s birthday or your email password, think about how much you have slept. Could more sleep help you remember these things easier? Instead of pulling that all-nighter before a big exam, prepare beforehand and have a good night’s rest. You’ll find that a good amount of sleep may help you remember things better.
Written by Georgia McIntosh