The amount of sleep that a person gets each night can have a significant impact on their cognitive performance. According to a study conducted by the Brain and Mind Institute at Western University in Canada, sleeping between seven and eight hours is considered optimal for enhancing brain functions. This study is particularly relevant because it is based on real-life observations rather than controlled laboratory experiments.
The essentials in a few points
- 🌜 Sleeping between 7 and 8 hours optimizes cognitive functions.
- 🧠 Real studies: sample of 10 thousand volunteers analyzed.
- 📉 Sleepiness: too much or too little has similar negative effects on the brain.
- 🔍 Short-term memory not influenced by hours of sleep.
- 📈 Future studies will focus on individual and cultural differences.
Importance of sleep
The amount of sleep that a person gets each night can have a significant impact on their cognitive performance. According to a study conducted by the Brain and Mind Institute at Western University in Canada, sleeping between seven and eight hours is considered optimal for enhancing brain functions. This study is particularly relevant because it is based on real-life observations rather than controlled laboratory experiments.
Methodology and participants
The study involved a sample of 10 thousand volunteers who were monitored for a period of three days. Participants completed online questionnaires and underwent various cognitive and neurological tests to assess their mental abilities. The results of this research were published in the journal Sleep , one of the most authoritative publications in the field of sleep medicine.
Results of the study
The results of the study highlighted that the duration of sleep is closely related to cognitive performance. In particular, those who slept between seven and eight hours showed a significant improvement in brain functions. Conversely, sleeping too much or too little produced similar effects, with a negative impact on reasoning and communication skills.
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Effects of excessive sleep
Despite the well-documented importance of sleep duration, the reason why excessive sleep can have negative effects on cognitive abilities is still unclear. Scholars are interested in conducting further analyses to better understand this phenomenon and to examine how aging, gender, and cultural differences may influence these results.
Short-term memory
An astonishing aspect that emerged from the study is that short-term memory does not seem to be influenced by sleep duration. This suggests that there are other factors that play a crucial role in maintaining this cognitive function, regardless of the hours of sleep obtained.
Future perspectives
With a growing interest in mental health and well-being, studies like this offer valuable insights into how simple modifications to our lifestyle, such as regulating sleep hours, can significantly improve our cognitive abilities. Future research will focus on a deeper understanding of these dynamics, with particular attention to individual and cultural differences.
