Study: Sleep mask improves memory and concentration the next day

A group of scientists from different universities in the US, UK and Italy found that using a sleep mask improves memory and alertness throughout the next day. results research were published in Sleep magazine.

Scientists conducted two experiments involving 122 people without health problems and bad habits. For the duration of the study, they gave up alcohol, caffeine, and daytime naps.

The first test involved 89 subjects aged 18 to 35 years. For seven days, they used a sleep mask every night, and then went to bed for another week. sleep without her. In parallel, scientists tested their attentiveness and associative thinking, which affects memory.

During the second experiment, 33 volunteers of the same age slept for several nights wearing a mask, as well as devices to measure light intensity and brain activity during sleep. And they were also tested for associations of pairs of words.

The researchers found that after using the mask, participants retained new information faster and were more alert overall. In addition, during the day they were more cheerful. The authors of the study believe that this is due to the absence of light stimuli and, accordingly, a stronger

Interestingly, during the experiments, no differences were found in the amount and quality of sleep. But the mask has been found to increase non-REM sleep, which plays a role in improving memory, the scientists added.