Napping Your Way to an “A”

Want to bring up your grades this semester? Take a nap. At least that’s what a recent Harvard study suggests. The experiment tested memory used for factual recall and found that a 45-minute nap boosted participants’ ability to remember recently learned information.

But the 33-person study, which appeared in the Feb. 1 issue of the journal Sleep, only found nap-related improvements for subjects who had learned the task well in the first place. So collapsing on your dorm-room couch this afternoon may not be such a bad idea. Just make sure you’re awake during that 11 a.m. class.The study’s lead author, Matthew A. Tucker of the Medical School, suggested that a threshold of learning must be reached before napping can provide an added boost.

For recent research, faculty profiles, and a look at the issues facing Harvard scientists, check out The Crimson's science page.