# The Benefits of Naps on Cognitive, Emotional and Motor Learning in Preschoolers

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST · 2020 · $514,986

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Sleep protects and enhances memory in young adults: performance changes on a range of tasks are greater
following an interval with sleep relative to changes over an interval spent awake. In young adults, a mid-day
nap is sufficient for gaining these performance benefits. Unlike adults, mid-day naps are routine for young
children. As such, the nap opportunity in preschools may serve as a target for intervention in children with
learning impairments and reduced overnight sleep opportunities. However, whether naps confer a particular
benefit to learning and performance of young children is unknown. The specific objective of the proposed
research is to examine whether naps contribute to immediate and delayed benefits on multiple forms of
learning in young children (3-5 yrs). By probing recall prior to and following mid-day nap or wake intervals, the
overarching hypothesis is that recent memories are actively processed (as opposed to passively protected) by
a nap, conferring immediate or delayed (24-hrs) benefits on declarative (Aim 1), procedural (Aim 2), and
emotional (Aim 3) memories. In two conditions, children will either be nap-promoted or wake-promoted mid-
day. Subsequently, performance will be reassessed that day as well as the following day. The specific
hypotheses examined are: a) mid-day naps benefit learning; b) naps yield stronger memories at 24-hrs; c)
performance benefits are due to an active role of sleep as indicated by a relationship between sleep physiology
and behavior. This work is innovative in that it presents a novel application of an accepted theoretical
construct. Moreover, these results are expected to shift the current practices regarding naps in preschools to a
practice of nap-promotion and better regard for the length of the nap opportunity. The translational
significance may be seen in new policies regarding in-class nap opportunities and pediatric nap guidelines for
preschool children. The theoretical significance is that these outcomes will drive an entirely new research
dimension for educational sciences (sleep as a novel target to enhance learning) and spur further
developmental studies on the influence and underpinnings of sleep-dependent cognitive and neural processes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9988490
- **Project number:** 5R01HL111695-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
- **Principal Investigator:** Rebecca M C Spencer
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $514,986
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9988490

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9988490, The Benefits of Naps on Cognitive, Emotional and Motor Learning in Preschoolers (5R01HL111695-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9988490. Licensed CC0.

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