Khaberni - Researchers from the University of Geneva and the German University Medical Centre Freiburg discovered that daytime napping aids the brain in recovering and better absorbing new information.
The study, conducted by the researchers, included 20 young people in good physical and mental health. Over various days, some participants took a short nap during the day, while others stayed awake throughout. The scientists used two techniques, electroencephalogram (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation, to assess the flexibility of the neural networks and the brain's readiness for learning.
The results showed that after taking a short nap, the overall level of neural connectivity in the participants' brains decreased, but this reduction was accompanied by a greater ability to form new neural connections, suggesting that the brain was in a state of recovery from neural stress.
The researchers also found that sleeping for a duration of 40 to 50 minutes during the day is sufficient to alleviate the excess load on neural connections that accumulates due to daily mental activity. During waking periods, the strength of links between nerve cells gradually increases, which is necessary for learning, but continuing this for a long period leads to saturation of these connections and a decline in the ability to assimilate new information.
Conversely, during sleep, a process known as "synaptic pruning" occurs, where the brain resets these connections, helping it restore efficiency and prepare to absorb new information.
According to the researchers, these findings explain why many people feel more focused and find it easier to study after a short nap. The study suggests that napping could be particularly beneficial for individuals under high mental stress, such as students, people in high-precision and focus-demanding jobs, as well as athletes.
