A 45-minute afternoon nap may reset the brain’s capacity for learning by reducing synaptic saturation and increasing plasticity, according to a study published in NeuroImage by researchers at the University of Freiburg. The findings, reported by NaturalNews.com on January 28, 2026, indicate that a brief daytime sleep period can reorganize neural connections and enhance the ability to form new memories for at least two hours afterward. [1]
In a controlled sleep lab experiment, 20 healthy adults participated in two sessions each: one with an afternoon nap and one with sustained wakefulness during the same time window. The nap session occurred between 1:15 and 2:15 p.m., a period that aligns with the natural circadian dip many people experience in the early afternoon. Participants averaged 45 minutes of sleep, spending most of that time in lighter and moderate sleep stages, investigators reported.
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