Sleep Med Psychophysiol.
2020 Dec;27(2):41-50. 10.14401/KASMED.2020.27.2.41.
An Overview on Naps in Sleep Medicine
- Affiliations
-
- 1Yong-In Mental Hospital, Yong-In Mental Psychiatric Research Institute, Yongin, Korea
- KMID: 2510597
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.14401/KASMED.2020.27.2.41
Abstract
- Napping is a natural and universal phenomenon. There are some differences depending on the age, but they are common throughout life. As research on naps in sleep medicine has recently increased, negative perceptions about naps are gradually decreasing with development of new and positive perspectives. First, naps relieve fatigue and sleepiness and increase arousal, improving cognitive abilities. Even in the process of memory consolidation, which allows retention of learned memory content, a period of short daytime sleep shows the same results as nocturnal sleep. In addition, evidence of the contribution of sleep to emotional regulation is increasing. The role of the nap has been extended recently to areas associated with immunity and pain. However, naps can disturb sleep at night. There are also concerns that habitual naps in old age are linked to cardiovascular risk and increased mortality. Various aspects and values of naps are being gradually unveiled. However, compared to that of night sleep, research on naps is insufficient, and more research on naps is required.
