Khaberni - In a phenomenon that has increasingly been discussed on social media platforms, some scientists have proposed the idea of "sleep banking" or Sleep Banking, which is a strategy believed to allow humans to benefit from extra sleep hours before a period where they may suffer from a lack of sleep.
A previous study at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in the United States provided a practical example of this idea, where 24 soldiers were divided into two groups: the first slept seven hours per night, and the second twelve hours, then sleep was reduced to three hours for one night during a week, before returning to normal sleep.
The results showed that the group that "banked" three extra hours maintained a better level of alertness and attention, and returned their performance to normal levels faster compared to the other group.
Practical applications support the idea
In recent years, multiple studies have demonstrated the benefits of sleep banking in various fields, including medicine and sports. In 2023, a study on doctors in Miami showed that an additional 90 minutes of sleep for three nights improved performance during night shifts for two weeks.
Athletes have also used this strategy to improve performance, such as rugby, tennis, and basketball players, where reduced levels of physical stress and an increase in task execution accuracy and response speed were noted.
Ongoing scientific debate
Despite the encouraging results, the concept of "sleep banking" remains controversial among scientists, with some experts believing that the body cannot actually "bank" sleep, and what is seen as performance improvements may only be compensations for previous sleep debts.
In a recent report by BBC, Elizabeth Clareman, Professor at Harvard University, said that sleep is like a credit card: debt (lack of sleep) can accumulate, but a real surplus cannot be created to be benefited from later.
Some other researchers suggest adding an extra 30 to 60 minutes of sleep at night for a week or two before expected sleep deprivation periods, or relying on a short nap as a means of "investing" in sleep, emphasizing that it should not exceed 45 minutes to avoid feelings of lethargy.
Conclusion agreed upon by experts
Whether humans are storing sleep or compensating for previous debts, most experts agree that regular healthy sleep of seven to nine hours daily remains fundamental for mental and physical health.
Any sharp and persistent lack of sleep can lead to poor concentration and overall performance and increase the difficulty of learning and absorbing information.
