Sleep

Sleeping on the Job? Actually, That's a Good Thing

University of Michigan | June 29, 2015

Employees seeking to boost their productivity at work should take a nap—yes, sleeping on the job can be a good thing.
A new University of Michigan study finds that taking a nap may be an effective strategy to counteract impulsive behavior and to boost tolerance for frustration.

<more at http://phys.org/news/2015-06-job-good.html; related link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886915003943 (Napping to modulate frustration and impulsivity: A pilot study) [Abstract: Recent research has shown that napping can increase positive mood, and improve immune functioning, demonstrating the additional benefits of naps beyond reducing sleepiness and fatigue. Because prolonged wakefulness is becoming more common, it is becoming increasingly important to identify effective approaches to decrease resultant cognitive deficiencies. The present study aimed to examine the impact of a brief, midday nap on an aspect of executive functioning, emotional control. 40 subjects were randomized into a nap or no-nap condition, and emotional control was measured with a self-report impulsivity measure and frustration tolerance task. Results revealed that nappers showed a decrease in self-reported impulsivity and increased tolerance for frustration, while those in the no-nap condition showed the opposite pattern. These results indicate that emotional control may become impaired from wakefulness that builds across the day, and that napping may be an effective countermeasure.]>