At a time when many would dream of being able to make a micro-nap at work after lunch, a British study proves them right. In the journal Hippocampus, researchers at the British Heriot-Watt University extol the benefits of taking breaks to preserve and maintain memory. On the timing side, you don’t need to wrestle your brains to find a niche in your busy schedule: ten minutes is enough.
This discovery is good news for little sleepers and insomniacs since it shows that sleep is not the only way to consolidate new information. Relaxation while awake is as beneficial as a night’s sleep. Above all, this study published in the Hippocampus review proves that the brain cannot be constantly challenged, and that it works best when it can rest. For boost your memory easily, it is recommended, according to the study, to stay ten minutes in a quiet place away from all distractions, without a computer or mobile phone.
“A lot of people think the brain needs constant stimulation, but maybe that’s not the best solution,” observes study author Michaela Dewar, quoted in The New Scientist. Therefore, it would be futile and counterproductive for students to want to revise their grades just before an exam. It is better to let the brain rest to better digest knowledge.
This study could have implications for helping people who suffer frominsomnia and diseases that affect memory, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
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