Sleep ''affects school results''
08/08/2008
Recent research in Adelaide''s Flinders University has found that a lack of sleep can affect children''s memories and by extension can impinge on their school grades, it has emerged.
Australian newspaper the Age has revealed that research conducted by psychologist Michael Gradisar found a notable contradiction to the long-understood theory that adolescents could sleep for less than eight hours a night.
"Previous studies suggested that despite getting inadequate sleep, kids could tolerate it and still function," Mr Gradisar said.
After having students carry out complex tasks that needed information to be remembered and used simultaneously, the research concluded differently, with Mr Gradisar noting that similar tests were encountered in school every day.
He concluded: "This has implications for their learning and their overall grades."
The Louisville Courier-Journal recently quoted statistics from the American National Sleep Foundation, which recommended that children aged between five and 12 get nine to 11 hours of sleep a night, with between 8.5 to 9.5 hours for teenagers.
