I think there is quite bit of literature on sleep and memory. For example, see http://www.pnas.org/content/100/4/2065.abstract and/or http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/86513492/abstract? CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 which talk about encoding during sleep.
Of course the behavior studies go back to Jenkins & Dallenbach who suggested that during sleep retroactive interference is minimized. But it seems to be more than that. Recent studies do suggest that there is some activity between memory encoding centers and cortical centers during sleep. While this is hypothesized to suggest memory consolidation during sleep, it is also possible that as memory consolidates then problem solving would also be enhanced, to the extent that it depends on memory. Annette ps (I hope my links work; they are from a simple google search of hippocampus and sleep--keywords I knew related to recent work in this area) Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 619-260-4006 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---- Original message ---- >Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:45:45 -0400 >From: Allen Esterson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [tips] What Color Is Your EnergyPod or Let Me Sleep On That >To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> > >On 28 September 2008 Mike Palij wrote: >>An article in today's Sunday NY Times focuses on the role >>of sleep in performance and creativity (even a "Ph.D. in >>expeirmental psychology" is quoted. The story is available >>at: http://tinyurl.com/4u9zln > >From the New York Times article: >"Some sort of incubation period, in which a person leaves an idea for a >while, is crucial to creativity. During the incubation period, sleep may >help the brain process a problem." > >I wonder if the sleep per se is so important, other than as providing a >situation "in which a person leaves an idea for a while". > >I have frequently found that ideas on some topic I'm writing about suddenly >pop into my mind while I'm out walking on the Thames towpath. Is this >essentially different from ideas coming up after sleep? Is there some kind >of *particular* "processing" occurring during sleep, or is it merely the >result of the "leaving the idea for a while" that necessarily occurs during >the sleeping period? > >Allen Esterson >Former lecturer, Science Department >Southwark College, London >http://www.esterson.org > >------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- >---------------------- >Mike Palij >Sun, 28 Sep 2008 04:32:20 -0700 > >An article in today's Sunday NY Times focuses on the role >of sleep in performance and creativity (even a "Ph.D. in >expeirmental psychology" is quoted. The story is available >at: >http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/technology/28proto.html? th=&adxnnl=1&emc= >th&adxnnlx=1222599633-uwfm8yG5fZ7FZ8yw+gOZJA >or >http://tinyurl.com/4u9zln > >Although Google has "EnergyPods" (special recliners for >napping) one wonders if it will ever catch-on on college >campuses? Or will student just continue to sleep at their >desks? > >-Mike Palij >New York University > >--- >To make changes to your subscription contact: > >Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
