Many might view the act of napping as a waste of time, but Thomas Edison would always take a quick snooze to boost his creativity – and a new study finds the famed American inventor may have been on to something.
Paris Brain Institute researchers discovered that taking just a few minutes to nap taps into an ‘creative sweetness spot’. The person drifts only into the first stage or hypnagogia (or N1) of sleep.
The N1 effect causes your muscles to relax, and visions of past events are created. This can be helpful in pushing through mental blocks, such as completing a puzzle or testing a project.
Study found that people who spent more than 15 seconds in N1 were at 83 percent risk of finding the secret rule for solving math problems. People who stayed awake, however, had only 30 percent.
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Many might view the act of napping as a waste of time, but Thomas Edison would always take a quick snooze to boost his creativity – and a new study finds the famed American inventor may have been on to something
Edison appears to have known more than 100 years before how to access the creative blissful spot.
He used to hold a ball in each of his hands as he slept. When his muscles were relaxed, he would let go and the ball hit the ground. This woke him up just in time for his sleep-inducing ideas.
When asleep, we only spend about five percent of the time in N1, usually less than 10 minutes, and is considered the transition between wake and sleep – it is also the least studied stage of sleep.
Science Magazine says that during this stage our muscles relaxes and we experience dreamlike visions.
Researchers offered participants the chance to attempt a math test for 30 times. Participants who couldn’t find the hidden rule were allowed to rest for 20 minutes. They were each given an empty plastic bottle to hold in their right hand, while researchers recorded their brain activity with electroencephalography helmets
This new study was designed to determine if visions could help overcome mental barriers. It used the same methodology as Edison.
This study involved approximately 103 participants. They were required to complete a math test in which they had to transform strings of 8 digits into strings of 7.
The hidden rule in the test solved the puzzle quickly. However, volunteers were not informed about it.
The rule was the second number in their final string was always the same as the last number in the same string.
Researchers found that people who spent more than 15 seconds in N1 were at an 83 percent probability of finding the secret rule for solving math problems. This was compared to those who stayed awake who had only 30 percent.
Researchers note, however, that the participants weren’t able to discover the secret rule after napping Edison-style. However, it did take people 94 attempts to complete the math test to gain insight.
Each participant was given 30 attempts to pass the test. Those who did not succeed took 20 minutes off.
They were each given an empty plastic bottle to hold in their right hand, while researchers recorded their brain activity with electroencephalography helmets to measure electrical waves produced by neural cells.
Edison’s process was replicated by participants.
When they started to enter N1, they felt their muscles relax and finally dropped the bottle, which woke them when it touched the floor.
After each individual was awakened, they asked them to share their thoughts on the moment the bottle fell.
Many people reported seeing dancing numbers or geometrical shapes. Others saw the Roman Colosseum, a horse in a hospital and other visions.
Participants returned to math after the break. Researchers found that participants who fell asleep and were awakened by the falling glass were three times as likely to discover the secret rule than those who were awake.
Researchers note, however, that the participants weren’t able to discover the secret rule after napping Edison-style. However, it did take people 94 attempts to complete the math test to gain insight.