Sleep and Its Effects on Cognitive Function and Task Performance

Abstract

Academic performance is often assumed to be directly proportional to the amount of time spent studying. However, growing evidence suggests that this assumption overlooks a critical biological factor: sleep. While prolonged study sessions and sleep deprivation are commonly used strategies before examinations, research increasingly indicates that insufficient sleep can undermine learning, memory retention, and overall cognitive performance. Understanding how sleep affects the brain is therefore essential for evaluating effective learning strategies and academic success.