Harvard Medical School studies show that sleep is an important part of the learning process. The studies, referenced in a story by Frontline's Sarah Spinks, included school-aged children who were subjected to numerous mental tests equipped with various amounts of sleep. The results indicate that the learning process is continued and sorted out during the sleeping process. During the latter stages of sleep--stages 3 and 4, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep--the learning parts of the brain are rejuvenated and activated. Stages 1 and 2, which are a lighter sleep in which a person can be easily awakened, do much less in refreshing the body and mind for the next day of learning.
The amount of sleep needed on a daily basis varies by age. Generally, school-aged children in the U.S. get less than the recommended amount of daily sleep, and many experts are concerned about the consequences in the school systems. Recent studies such as the Harvard Medical School studies of adolescent sleep patterns show that adequate rest after learning a lesson at school is just as important as receiving the lesson in the first place. The recommended allotment of sleep for children between the ages of 7 and 12 is 10 to 11 hours of sleep every day. Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 should be getting between eight and nine hours of sleep every day. However, many experts, including the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, recommend nine hours of daily sleep for teenagers.
Restful sleep must be uninterrupted. There are five stages of sleep known as stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, stage 4 and REM sleep. During the sleep process, a person progresses from stage 1 through REM sleep, at which point the cycle goes back to stage 1 and repeats. During stages 3 and 4 a person receives a deeper, restful sleep. REM sleep is known to stimulate the portions of the brain used for the learning process. REM sleep is a time when the brain reaffirms informational connections made while awake.
Sleeping habits are important in the quest to get healthy amounts of rest. For example, binge sleeping on the weekends is less healthy than just getting one or two additional hours of sleep. The body has an internal sleep clock known as a circadian rhythm. The internal clock resets when sleeping patterns are altered. Experts believe the circadian rhythm is highly governed by the amount of light a person is exposed to. Ways to set your internal clock include dimming the lights around bedtime, brightening lights in the morning and sticking to a predetermined bedtime and wake time every day of the week.