Research from institutions in Hamburg and at the Max Planck Institute reveals that even a short 20-minute nap can significantly enhance problem-solving abilities. In an experiment with 90 participants tasked with tracking moving dots, those who napped performed better, with a remarkable 86% of participants entering deep sleep (N2 phase) reporting insights. Researchers controlled conditions by limiting caffeine consumption and sleep duration the night prior, emphasizing the brain's capacity to make connections during brief rest periods, confirming previous findings on sleep and creativity.
"We also told people to sleep 30% less the night before and not consume any caffeine for coming in at 1 p.m," Lowe told NPR.
"A startling 86% of those deep sleepers had a eureka moment more than any other group."
"I am super happy to see that they also replicated the fact that short nap is helpful for boosting insights," she said.
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