Have you been trying to learn a new skill but, no matter how hard you try, it doesn't stick in your memory? Maybe you should take a nap to help jog your memory, scientists suggest.
Researchers from the Northwestern University suggest memories could be reactivated and strengthened during sleep.
The study focuses on how sleep could help you learn a new musical instrument.
Professor Ken Paller told Huffpost Lifestyle: "There are many other types of memory to test, as well as other types of cues and other learning situations. We have not tested whether results differ by age or gender, or treatment of memory difficulties using this [technique]."
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"Our results extend prior research by showing that external stimulation during sleep can influence a complex skill," added Paller in a statement.
During the study, a group of participants learned how to play two musical tunes.
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The participants then took a 90-minute nap. During this time, researchers played one of the tunes that had been practiced.
Using electroencephalography (EEG) methods to record the brain's electrical activity, the researchers ensured the soft musical 'cues' were played to participants during ‘slow-wave sleep’ (a stage of sleep previously linked to cementing memories).
When the participants woke up and resumed their instrument practice, researchers noted fewer errors were made when volunteers practised the melody they had heard while sleeping.
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Fellow study author, Paul Reber, said the study demonstrates possible ways to strengthen skills you've already learned.
"Rather than learning something new in your sleep, we're talking about enhancing an existing memory by re-activating information recently acquired."
The study's results will soon be published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
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