Rapid Restoration: How 15–30 Minute Naps Influence Attention, Memory, and Executive Function
Öz
Short-duration daytime naps of 15–30 minutes have emerged as an effective strategy for rapidly restoring alertness, mitigating fatigue, and enhancing cognitive performance across multiple domains, including attention, working memory, executive function, and learning. Unlike longer naps, which may induce sleep inertia due to slow-wave sleep, brief naps predominantly engage light NREM stages (N1 and N2), enabling swift recovery and minimal post-nap grogginess. Neurophysiological mechanisms underlying these benefits include thalamo-cortical disengagement, spindle- and K-complex-mediated synaptic plasticity, hippocampal memory stabilization, and modulation of arousal systems. The effectiveness of short naps is moderated by factors such as circadian timing, baseline sleep pressure, habitual napping, age, prior sleep restriction, and environmental conditions. Cross-cultural practices from Mediterranean siestas to East Asian wujiao and Japanese inemuri highlight the adaptive and socially mediated nature of brief daytime sleep, while recent adoption in Western educational and occupational settings demonstrates translational potential. Overall, 15–30-minute naps represent a biologically optimized, time-efficient intervention for enhancing cognitive functioning, emotional regulation, and overall well-being in both daily life and high-demand professional contexts.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Kaynakça
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Ayrıntılar
Birincil Dil
İngilizce
Konular
Sinirbilim (Diğer)
Bölüm
Derleme
Yazarlar
Neriman Ezgin
*
0000-0002-7016-2334
Türkiye
Yayımlanma Tarihi
9 Haziran 2026
Gönderilme Tarihi
12 Aralık 2025
Kabul Tarihi
3 Haziran 2026
Yayımlandığı Sayı
Yıl 2026 Cilt: 48 Sayı: 4