Neuroscience studies link music and sleep to improved childhood memory

Recent neuroscientific studies have identified specific lifestyle and educational factors that enhance cognitive functions in children.

In Chile, research published in ‘Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience’ led by Dr. Leonie Kausel examined 40 children aged 10 to 13. The study found that those with at least two years of musical training and regular participation in ensembles demonstrated significantly better performance in memory tasks and increased brain activation in regions associated with attentional control compared to a control group.

Separately, a study published in the ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences’ focused on preschool-aged children in Massachusetts, United States. Researchers found that napping during school hours improved memory retention. Children who took an average 77-minute nap were able to recall 75% of image locations in a memory task, whereas those who remained awake recalled only 65%. The study suggests that the benefits of sleep on memory are sustained beyond immediate rest.