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Sleep, especially slow-wave sleep, seems important for memory (see JW Psychiatry Feb 15 2013). Here, 60 subjects studied the locations of several pictures on a computer-screen grid. Each picture was paired with a related sound cue and given a high or low cash value. After memorizing item locations, participants were assigned to (1) a 90-minute nap with white noise; (2) a 90-minute nap with white noise plus sound cues (played during slow-wave sleep) for half of the low-value items; (3) viewing a documentary film; or (4) a complex working memory task with white noise plus sound cues for half of the low-value items. Participants were tested before assignment and after nap, task, or film.
At test 1, all groups remembered the location of high-val…