Visual Discrimination Task Improvement: A Multi-Step Process Occurring During Sleep

@article{Stickgold2000VisualDT,
  title={Visual Discrimination Task Improvement: A Multi-Step Process Occurring During Sleep},
  author={Robert Stickgold and Dana Whidbee and B. Schirmer and Vipul Patel and J. Allan Hobson},
  journal={Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience},
  year={2000},
  volume={12},
  pages={246-254}
}
Performance on a visual discrimination task shows longterm improvement after a single training session. When tested within 24 hr of training, improvement, was not observed unless subjects obtained at least 6 hr of postraining sleep prior to retesting, in which case improvement was proportional to the amount of sleep in excess of 6 hr. For subjects averaging 8 hr of sleep, overnight improvement was proportional to the amount of slow wave sleep (SWS) in the first quarter of the night, as well as… 
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