​Awake to the Power of Sleep Part I: Learning and Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation may be undermining our

children’s education.  Evidence suggests that

it reduces their ability to learn.


While most people associate sleeplessness with

​fatigue and moodiness, some are unaware that its

negative effects have even greater significance.

Studies indicate a strong link between sleep and memory.


​
​Learning and memory may be described in terms of three functions:

 Acquisition—introduction of new information into the brain

 Consolidation—processes by which a memory becomes stable

 Recall—ability to access the information after it has been store

​While acquisition and recall occur during wakefulness, consolidation is thought to occur during

sleep. Consequently, sleep deprivation is detrimental to all three functions of learning and

memory. According to the National Institutes of Health, it causes inability to concentrate the

next day, impaired memory and physical performance, and reduced ability to perform math

calculations. Hallucinations may also develop with extended sleep deprivation. The impact

appears quickly, after only four nights of one fewer hour of sleep per night.  The Journal of Clinical

Sleep Medicine states, “Sleep is essential for optimal health in children and adolescents...Sleeping

the number of recommended hours on a regular basis is associated with better health outcomes

including: improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and

​mental and physical health.

​The National Sleep Foundation recommends the following number of hours of sleep  per 24-hour

​period:

 Toddlers (1-2 years): 11 to 14 hours

 Preschoolers (3-5 years): 10 to 13 hours

 School-aged children (6-13 years): 9 to 11 hours

 Teenagers (14-17 years): 8 to 10 hours

 Young Adults (18-25 years): 7 to 9 hours

 Adults (26-64 years): 7 to 9 hours

 Older Adults (65 years and older): 7 to 8 hour

Visit sleepfoundation.org for an extended table of sleep duration recommendations.


Stay tuned for Part II of the Awake to the Power of Sleep Series: From A to ZZZ—Healthy Sleep

Habits for School-Aged Children.