A recent study in the Journal of Neuroscience indicated that the timing of your sleep can have a significant impact on learning skills and actions. When you are learning a physical skill, you are training your motor memory, and there’s been questions on whether sleep consolidated these motor memories. Previous studies suggested that motor memories consolidate with practice over time, independent of sleep. However, the studies did not consider the timing between training and sleep, which could be a critical factor.

The recent study indicates that timing bedtime or a nap shortly after a practice, can enhance the motor memory and the ability to retain and perform the skill.

For more information, read the article in PsyPost here.