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The Link Between Deep Sleep and Visual Learning

A study done by the Brigham and Women’s Hospital shows a relationship between deep sleep (non-REM sleep) and the ability of the mind to learn specific visual tasks.
Subjects were trained on a visual learning tasks that required them to decide the orientation of dashes in a field of horizontal dashes on a computer screen. Subjects that were allowed to sleep normally with no interruptions had an improvement in performing the task. Other subjects that were not awakened but prevented from entering into deep sleep did not improve their skill in the task.
This study’s findings has implications that could affect the role that the lack of deep sleep plays within conditions like insomnia and depression as well as aging.
For more information on the study, visit http://www.brighamandwomens.org/PressReleases/PressRelease.aspx?PageID=350
(Michelle Uhri)