The Science of Sleep & Memory

Pulling an "All-Nighter" is the single worst thing you can do for your exam score. Here is why sleep is actually study time.

The "Save Button" Effect

During the day, you learn new facts, but they are stored in a temporary area of the brain (the hippocampus). This area is fragile.

Deep Sleep Consolidation

During deep sleep (REM cycles), your brain moves these memories to the cortex for long-term storage. If you sleep 4 hours instead of 8, you physically delete half the work you did that day.

The 90-Minute Rule

Sleep cycles take about 90 minutes. If you wake up in the middle of one, you feel groggy. Try to sleep in multiples of 90 minutes (e.g., 6 hours or 7.5 hours) for maximum alertness.