Tag: adult learning in your sleep

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Sleep learning: Is learning while sleeping possible?

cute sad pug in blanket. This little pug just found out that learning while sleeping isn't possible.

The dream ideal: learning while sleeping

When I was growing up, every issue of our “TV Guide” came with big, glossy ads for a fancy contraption that would make learning while sleeping possible. There were dozens of tapes with courses to choose from – you just plugged the weird machine in (it looked like a dangerous Walkman+RayBans+Breathalyzer hybrid) and went into a state of deep relaxation. The theory was that while in such trance, the information would just flow into your head as if in a state of hypnosis.

I thought of this weird concept recently as I started looking into sleep a bit more. I’ll probably come back to writing about sleeping soon (it’s one of my favourite things!), but for now, the main question: is sleep learning possible? And what else is sleep good for, when we learn?

The rude awakening: sleep learning debunked

Research has not been very kind to the proposition that you can get more knowledge without being awake for it. Since the 1950s, most researchers looking into such techniques reach a similar conclusion: learning while sleeping doesn’t work. It may be possible to use conditioning at some level – to make you like or dislike certain smells, for example – while you sleep. But the new information can’t be learned while you get your good night’s sleep. (You can read more about the research into sleep learning on this Wikipedia page.)

Sleep learning – just another myth (probably)

The people who were trying to sell us the devices for learning while we sleep probably didn’t want you to know this. There are no shortcuts to putting in the effort while learning something. (You may begin to see the pattern here – remember the article about Matrix-style instant learning?)

So why the “probably”? Well, although it’s the 21st century, we are still not sure what sleep is for. We don’t know how it works exactly, and why humans sleep so much. Learning while sleeping may just be a level we haven’t reached yet. But, you know, don’t expect overnight miracles here.

Sleep for power learners: what is it good for?

So you won’t be able to learn a new language while you sleep, for a while at least. But that doesn’t mean you should change your plans to pulling all-nighters and just forget about sleep altogether. Here’s a quick reminder of what sleep does for you:

  • It helps your body consolidate muscle memory – useful for learning new skills to do with the body.
  • It helps your brain “clean up” – useful for making sure your neurons are in good shape again.
  • It helps you regain focus and alertness – useful for staying “with it” during any learning project.
  • It helps your body clock get back to normal – useful if you’ve been travelling and are trying to help your body come back to normal.

So there you have it – no good news for sleep learning, but plenty of good reasons to take care of sleep anyway! What role does sleep play in your learning adventures?

(Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash)