#naps
When the going gets tough, have a nap
Research has already shown that, in general, sleep helps us make sense of emotions. Sleep plays a key role in encoding information based on experiences from the day, making sleep critical for preserving memories. And emotional memories are unique because of the way they activate the amygdala, the brain’s emotional core.
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But by influencing how memories are processed, sleep can also change the power of a memory itself. “Sleep is particularly good at transforming emotional memory,” says Elaina Bolinger, who specialises in emotion and sleep at the University of Tuebingen.
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Naps mostly consist of non-REM sleep – including SWS in longer naps. And a recent paper co-authored by Spencer appears to be the first to show that naps, and not just overnight sleep, contribute to emotional memory processing in children.
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Spencer believes that naps are also helpful for emotional processing in adults, though not to the same extent. An adult has a more mature hippocampus, and thus a stronger ability to hold onto memories. Wake isn’t as damaging.
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Bolinger puts it plainly: for the most part, “sleep helps you feel better”. Ultimately, the best prescription for a broken heart or a clouded mind may be having a kip.
