Sleep On It – The Importance of Sleep for Your Brain

Want to know why we all need to SLEEP ON IT?

During sleep, the brain “replays” events to consolidate memory.

Researchers at the University of Bristol tell us that during sleep our brains replay daytime events at fast-forward speed. This ‘brain replay’ strengthens the microscopic connections between brain cells that are active, helping us retain important information and consolidate memories.

I also believe these replays play a role in major “brain restructuring”.

* When I changed field of study, I found myself having weird long dreams where stuff from my childhood, my previous university learning and people from my past and present were merged with new concepts in totally irrational ad seemingly random clusters (e.g. home staircase, then current classmates either by Prague’s river Vltava or at my secondary school in Italy, plus database design entities in garden structures).

* It is my belief that my brain was trying to make sense of new concepts and could not quite do that withing the existing brain structuring and so had to undertake a kind of “spring cleaning” and reorganising effort.

* I also found that, when these crazy long dreams “normalised”, I found my course easier. It is my belief that – by then – my brain had finished performing a “major restructuring” over many nights of “replays”. This restructuring allowed it to accommodate  new experiences and concepts with past/stored memories within newly formed and more effective structures (for the tasks at hand).

* Ever tried having lots of naps while studying? Just a few minutes after a key point should be sufficient. (Do this during the day)

* For best longer-term “data storage” and “effective learning”, make sure you sleep well and sufficiently at night too

* Do you have any more tips? Let me know below (comments)

* Have you ever experienced some major brain restructuring?

* Do you use sleep strategically when studying?

I look forward to your comments!

Reference: