Sleep and learning

The main function of sleep is to consolidate and optimize the layout of memories. Sleep deprivation leads to impaired consolidation of both declarative and procedural memories. As a result, we do not improve on learned tasks and do not consolidate the learned material. In consecutive NREM and REM phases, memories are played back to and from the hippocampus so that their representations in the neocortex can be optimized. This, among others, serves generalization and minimization of memory interference. For that reason, all creative people need to take utmost care about receiving sufficient amount of quality sleep.