Sleep and learning

Multiple hypotheses explain the possible connections between sleep and learning in humans. Research indicates that sleep does more than allow the brain to rest; it may also aid the consolidation of long-term memories.

REM sleep and slow-wave sleep play different roles in memory consolidation. REM is associated with the consolidation of nondeclarative (implicit) memories. An example of a nondeclarative memory would be a task that we can do without consciously thinking about it, such as riding a bike. Slow-wave, or non-REM (NREM) sleep, is associated with the consolidation of declarative (explicit) memories. These are facts that need to be consciously remembered, such as dates for a history class.^[1]

^ Wilhelm, I.; Diekelmann, S.; Born, J. (25 April 2008). "Sleep in children improves memory performance on declarative but not procedural tasks". Learning & Memory. 15 (5). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: 373–377. doi:10.1101/lm.803708. ISSN 1072-0502. PMID 18441295.

[1] Wilhelm, I.; Diekelmann, S.; Born, J. (25 April 2008). "Sleep in children improves memory performance on declarative but not procedural tasks". Learning & Memory. 15 (5). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: 373–377. doi:10.1101/lm.803708. ISSN 1072-0502. PMID 18441295.

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