Sufficient sleep is essential for learning. Understanding how the brain functions to build memory and proficiency at night can help students — and anyone learning new skills — more effectively plan their study approach. • Topics involving complex thinking, such as comparing and contrasting material, should be studied before bedtime so that during REM sleep the brain can keep working. You will be better able to connect the dots in the morning after a good night’s sleep. • Declarative memory, such as memorizing state capitals, is most effectively done when people are at their peak, typically in the morning after sleep, though that timing may vary depending upon age.
Most college students get much less than the recommended amount of sleep each night. More than two-thirds experience excessive drowsiness, more than a third fall asleep in class at least once a week and a quarter suffer from more excessive sleep problems, according to research by the University of St. Thomas. The study, which measured the impact of poor sleep on academic performance, found that students who slept less than six hours per night had grade point averages (GPAs) 0.5 points lower than students who got nine or more hours of sleep. Separate research published in the College Student Journal found significantly lower GPAs and more psychological maladjustment among students who slept six or fewer hours compared to students who slept nine or more hours each night.
