The Effect of Cognitive Activity on Sleep Maintenance in a Subsequent Daytime Nap.

Background/

Objective

The aim of this study is to assess the effects of a learning task on the characteristics of a subsequent daytime nap. Participants and

Methods

Thirty-eight subjects were administered a control nap (C) and one preceded by a cognitive training session (TR).

Results

Relative to C, TR naps showed significantly increased sleep duration with decreased sleep latency, as well as significantly increased sleep efficiency due to reduced awakening frequency. Meaningful trends were also found toward an increase of Stage 2 sleep proportion and a reduction of Stage 1 sleep, percentage of wake after sleep onset (WASO), and frequency of state transitions.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that presleep learning favors sleep propensity and maintenance, offering the possibility to explore planned cognitive training as a low-cost treatment for sleep impairments.