Afternoon Naps Enhance Problem-Solving Abilities

A recent study by Texas State University researchers indicates that taking an afternoon

, especially one that includes (REM) sleep, can significantly improve problem-solving skills.

The study involved 58 participants who were initially presented with a series of problems

solutions. , they were given a new set of without solutions, which could be solved using . After a two-hour - during which 28 participants took a 110-minute nap while the remaining 30 stayed awake - the participants the unsolved problems.

Findings revealed that those who napped, particularly those experiencing longer REM sleep durations, demonstrated

and were more at recognizing similarities between problem sets. These results suggest that REM sleep plays a crucial role in connecting new information with existing knowledge, thereby facilitating enhanced cognitive processing.