By contributing author Paul Li, a neuroscience graduate student at Columbia.
Whenever I am studying for an exam I inevitably take short naps in between my studies - just as long as I have a study-buddy or an alarm clock to wake me up. It never occurred to me that the nap might be beneficial beyond simply resting and re-energizing my brain. 
But a recent study has shown that naps, in this case a 90-minute snooze, can help consolidate memories and promote long-term retention.
In the study, participants began learning a complex thumb-tapping sequence. The participants were then divided into two groups: one took a nap and the other did not. When tested later that evening, the group that took a nap during the afternoon remembered more of the thumb-tapping sequence than the group that hadn’t napped. This suggests that while napping, the brain was working to strengthen and consolidate the newly forming memories. With that in mind, a power nap can be helpful for those who lack a good night’s sleep or want to perform better on their next exam.
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Sebastien, NapSounds
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