Comparing Hypotheses on Sleep and Cognition

In a recent series of experiments, two neurobiologists, Dr. Smith and Dr. Jones, proposed conflicting hypotheses about the relationship between sleep duration and cognitive performance. Dr. Smith hypothesizes that increased sleep duration leads to significantly improved cognitive performance due to enhanced memory consolidation during deeper sleep stages. In contrast, Dr. Jones argues that while some sleep is necessary, excessive sleep duration may lead to cognitive decline due to prolonged inactivity and a reduction in mental stimulation.

To test their hypotheses, both researchers conducted a set of cognitive tests on two groups of participants: one group receiving less than 6 hours of sleep per night and another group getting more than 9 hours of sleep per night. The tests measured memory recall, problem-solving ability, and overall cognitive flexibility. Results showed that the group with 6 hours of sleep outperformed those with 9 hours in problem-solving tasks but not in memory recall.

Based on their findings, which scientist's hypothesis is better supported by the data?