how sleep facilitates information processing

Question 1

The cognitive approach of psychology argues?

Answer 1

that the mind is a processor of information. Similar to a computer, we process information (our memories, thoughts, etc) through input, storage and output. Cognitive psychologists argue that the purpose of sleep is to facilitate this information processing.

Question 2

Sleep deprivation has been shown to lead to?

Answer 2

reduced attention and short-term memory, which then influences what gets saved as long-term memories. It also impacts the performance of higher-level cognitive functions such as decision-making and reasoning.

Question 3

It is suggested that the different stages of sleep benefit different types of learning and memory which are?

Answer 3

REM sleep is thought to particularly benefit procedural memory
Stage 2 benefits memory of facts and events
Early non-REM (stages 1 and 2) are important for motor memory
REM sleep is important for emotional memory, and creativity and insight

Question 4

Evidence
(know at least one)

Answer 4

Mednick et al (2003) found that participants’ performance in perception tasks were improved after sleeping. Interestingly, they found the same benefit after a 90 minute nap (which included all the sleep stages) and a full night’s sleep.

Seehagen (2015) found that when babies learn a new action, those who take a nap right after show better recall than those who don’t.

Zammit (2009) showed that insomnia sufferers exhibited lower scores on tasks involving concentration, memory, attention and problem-solving compared to those who did not have insomnia.