Has this ever happened to you as well? You spend a great deal of time preparing for your weekly evening language class, memorise vocabulary, and meticulously take notes during the lesson—only to find the next day that half of what you learned has simply disappeared. Why sleep plays a key role in improving your learning ability is explained in the following blog article. 

Dr. Vorster, sleep researcher at the Swiss Sleep House in Bern and recognised sleep expert, is familiar with the interaction between optimal memory formation and sleep. “Sleep is essential for us to retain what we have learned. If we do not sleep sufficiently after learning, we forget more of it overnight.” But why is that the case? During sleep, new information is not only stored in the brain but also integrated into our existing knowledge framework. True knowledge is created when we combine new information with what we already know. In this process, the hippocampus—a part of the limbic system—plays a crucial role. 

“During deep sleep, the hippocampus becomes active and rapidly replays the information experienced during the day. This process helps to better consolidate what has been learned.” — Dr. Vorster, sleep researcher, Swiss Sleep House Bern 

Why sleep makes us smarter

It is also scientifically proven that sleep positively influences our ability to learn. Sleep helps us recognise hidden patterns and regularities—in other words, it ultimately makes us smarter. Whether there are ten hours or just two hours between studying and going to bed is not relevant. However, “it is important that we go to sleep within 24 hours so that what we have learned can be properly processed and stored in the brain,” the sleep researcher concludes. 

The fact is: those who sleep sufficiently and regularly improve their cognitive processing and reduce the rapid forgetting of newly acquired knowledge. 

Sleep tip from Dr. Vorster

“Make sure not only to get enough good sleep, but also to take your individual peak performance times into account. Study at the times when you feel most alert and capable.” Source: Dr. Albrecht Vorster, sleep researcher at the Swiss Sleep House in Bern (personal communication, August 20, 2024)