Cognitive Performance and Sleep Duration

A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology evaluated the relationship between sleep duration and cognitive performance among college students. The researchers gathered data from over 500 participants, assessing their average nightly sleep hours and conducting a series of cognitive tests. The findings suggested that students who slept between 7 to 9 hours per night performed significantly better in memory and problem-solving tasks compared to those who slept less than 6 hours or more than 9 hours. Notably, the study also pointed out that irregular sleep patterns, regardless of total sleep hours, negatively impacted cognitive function.