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Sleep boosts happy thoughts by preserving our positive memories

April 4th, 2012 FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
Emma Reynolds


PUBLISHED:

23:36 EST, 3 April 2012

|

UPDATED:

02:43 EST, 4 April 2012

A good night’s sleep boosts our positive memories, according to a study.

Researchers split 70 young adults into two groups – one that got to sleep overnight and one that had to stay awake.

Both groups were required to look at positive images containing items such as puppies and flowers, and both at neutral images featuring furniture and dinner plates.

Thought process: Researchers from the University of Massachusetts say sleep enhances our emotionally positive memories

Thought process: Researchers from the University of Massachusetts say sleep enhances our emotionally positive memories

The participants’ memories of the images were then tested 12 hours later, after either a period of sleep or staying awake, with the positive memories stronger for the sleepers.

‘Results showed sleep enhances our emotionally positive memories,’ said Professor Rebecca Spencer of the University of Massachusetts.

‘Positive memories may even be prioritised for processing during sleep.’

Professor Spencer believes the results could also have
significant implications for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, as
wakefulness could have the unintended effect of degrading positive
memories as well as negative memories.

Scientists already know insomnia is a
healthy biological response for people to reduce negative emotions associated with a traumatic event.

But the study reinforces the idea that sleep is important to preserve all our memories.

When people are awake, our minds may cloud any negative thought, but it also distorts the positive.

Good memories: Subjects were more likely to recall positive images such as puppies and flowers than neutral ones such as furniture

Good memories: Subjects were more likely to recall positive images such as puppies and flowers than neutral ones such as furniture

The professor said: ‘The study suggests
that insomnia should be treated at some point after a traumatic event –
perhaps a few days/weeks depending on the level of trauma – so that
these positive memories can be strengthened and eventually outweigh the
negative.

‘For mildly negative memories, we can learn something from them and we
should remember them. Moreover, sleep enhances memories for the positive
events that we are exposed to and want to remember.’

In a separate study presented at the
same Chicago conference, University of Notre Dame researchers found that
test subjects are more likely to remember cartoons that are humorous
than non-humorous ones.

Scientists said it underlined the idea that preserving positive memories is both useful and good for our wellbeing.

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
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So how come I have both hypersomnia/oversleeping and only nightmares, mostly about my mostly miserable 20 year marriage that ended 10 years ago? What do I have to do to develop some insomnia and nicer dreams???

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I’m an atheist who sleeps the sleep of the innocent, and I am happy.

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My wife is “annoyed” because I wake her up in the night, laughing in my sleep. I must have really enjoyable dreams.

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