From incubation to sleep: Effects of sleep on problem solving
Lead Research Organisation:
Lancaster University
Department Name: Psychology
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
Publications
Monaghan P
(2017)
Hemispheric processing of memory is affected by sleep.
in Brain and language
Monaghan P
(2015)
Sleep promotes analogical transfer in problem solving.
in Cognition
Sio UN
(2013)
Sleep on it, but only if it is difficult: effects of sleep on problem solving.
in Memory & cognition
Ut Na Sio (Author)
(2011)
The moderating effect of problem difficulty on the sleep role on insight problem problem
| Description | We found that problem solving was supported by sleeping between being first exposed to the problem and re-attempting a solution. In our paper published in Memory and Cognition we found that this was particularly true for harder problems, requiring distant associations to be formed. when the problem was easier, problem solving was benefited by continuing with the problem rather than leaving it aside. We found that applying analogous solutions to new problems was also boosted by sleep. People were able to configure a related problem to a new scenario more effectively after sleep than after a similar length period of wake. In our Cognition paper we showed that this was not due to better memory for the related problem, but was due to abstraction of the structure of the problem to flexibly apply it in a new domain. |
| Exploitation Route | Problem solving and insight are supported by sleep. All areas of human conduct requiring creative decision making especially for complex problems can benefit from our results showing that sleep can promote effective problem solving skills. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Description | Being Human talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk as part of AHRC Humanities Festival "Being Human". 50 members of the public attended to hear talks on cognitive, societial, and artistic representations of sleep. Each talk inspired questions and discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://wp.lancs.ac.uk/beinghuman/2015/10/14/hello-world/ |
| Description | Consultation with BBC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Consultation with BBC over documentary film on effects of sleep and sleep deprivation on cognition. Our research on the positive effects of sleep on problem solving, and the value of sleep in decision making and creative insight, was an influence on the proposed shape of the upcoming programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Modelling small worlds in problem solving |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk at international conference on problem solving providing insight into the structure of associative memory. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| URL | http://www.bcbl.eu/events/ncpw13/ |
| Description | Radio Lancashire interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | BBC Radio Lancashire "Drive time" interview on effects of sleep on learning and school performance. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04tp5kz |
| Description | The conversation - brain and sleep |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | article in The Conversation on "What is going on in your brain when you sleep?" Readership was 67,000 with multiple email requests for further information from the general public and the BBC. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | https://theconversation.com/what-is-going-on-in-your-brain-when-you-sleep-39723 |
| Description | The conversation - problems and sleep |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | General science engagement article in The Conversation on "How we showed sleeping on it really is the best way to solve problems". Read by >45000 readers. Numerous follow-ups from general public and media (e.g., BBC) in emails, requests for further information. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | https://theconversation.com/how-we-showed-sleeping-on-it-really-is-the-best-way-to-solve-a-problem-4... |