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Delayed benefit of naps on motor learning in preschool children

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Abstract

Sleep benefits memory consolidation across a variety of domains in young adults. However, while declarative memories benefit from sleep in young children, such improvements are not consistently seen for procedural skill learning. Here we examined whether performance improvements on a procedural task, although not immediately observed, are evident after a longer delay when augmented by overnight sleep (24 h after learning). We trained 47 children, aged 33–71 months, on a serial reaction time task and, using a within-subject design, evaluated performance at three time points: immediately after learning, after a daytime nap (nap condition) or equivalent wake opportunity (wake condition), and 24 h after learning. Consistent with previous studies, performance improvements following the nap did not differ from performance improvements following an equivalent interval spent awake. However, significant benefits of the nap were found when performance was assessed 24 h after learning. This research demonstrates that motor skill learning is benefited by sleep, but that this benefit is only evident after an extended period of time.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Tim Miller for programming the iPad task. This work was supported in part by National Institute of Health Grant R01 HL111695 (to R.M.C.S.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 135 Hicks Way, Tobin 419, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA

    Phillip C. Desrochers, Laura B. F. Kurdziel & Rebecca M. C. Spencer

  2. Neuroscience and Behavior Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA

    Laura B. F. Kurdziel & Rebecca M. C. Spencer

Authors
  1. Phillip C. Desrochers
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  2. Laura B. F. Kurdziel
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  3. Rebecca M. C. Spencer
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Correspondence to Rebecca M. C. Spencer.

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Desrochers, P.C., Kurdziel, L.B.F. & Spencer, R.M.C. Delayed benefit of naps on motor learning in preschool children. Exp Brain Res 234, 763–772 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-015-4506-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-015-4506-3

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