Naps are Good for the Brain

(Our happy hour fact to amaze your drinking buddies with.)

Taking naps bolsters your memory and creativity, according to new research.

Neuroscientists at the City University of New York taught English-speaking college students a list of simple Chinese words. Then, half the students took a 90-minute nap, while the other half stayed awake. After the nappers arose, both groups took a multiple-choice test on complicated Chinese words that they had not seen. The nappers were more likely than the non-nappers to be able to use their knowledge of the simple Chinese words to tease out the meanings of the more complex ones.

While most adults don't have time for a 90-minute nap, researchers suggest even 12 minutes of shuteye can boost brain power.

Meaning if too much Thanksgiving turkey starts to make your eyelids droop, just go with it. When you awake, you may finally have a coherent answer to all your family members' questions about what you're planning to do with your life.

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