While reading the chapter on sleep I decided to look further into how lacks of sleep can decrease the performance of your brain. When I went online I found that research suggests that there are three different stages of learning. First is acquisition where new information is introduced. This is followed by Consolidation which is the process where the memory becomes stable. And lastly is recall which is the stage when we can consciously of unconsciously access the information we have picked up. Next the article looked at the different types of learning. The one I will focus on is declarative memory which is "what we know" (Facts like information from a text book). The researchers found that this type of memory is most retained during REM sleep if the information was either complex of had emotion behind it and other simpler information is retained during short wave sleep, which is a deep restorative stage of sleep.
No hearing this I think the information in say our psychology textbook is pretty complex so by getting more time of REM sleep one could better remember and comprehend the material. Now I know we have all been to the point where we have to much studying to do and not nearly enough time to do it. This happens to everyone but maybe next time study as much as you can and get some rest. It will be better to remember most than to barely know all of the information.
Here is a Video to go along
http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/video/sleep07_stickgold_learning/qt-lo
http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/benefits-of-sleep/learning-memory
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