Conclusions
The studies discussed here allow us to draw some
conclusions. As a first observation, regardless of the
theoretical framework adopted (dual process hypothesis
or sequential processing hypothesis), both
REM and NREM sleep seem necessary for learning
and memory: thus, for an efficient consolidation of
both (declarative) knowledge and (procedural)
skills, the worst risk is sleep loss or fragmentation.
Moreover, it was shown that an increasing daytime
sleepiness, as a consequence of poor sleep
quality, can seriously impair students’ cognitive
functioning and behavioural performance. An association
between academic performance and sleep
habits or daytime sleepiness levels has also been
suggested by children’s sleep-breathing disorders
or obesity.
Finally, studies with experimental manipulations
of the amount and quality of children’s sleep
confirmed that poor or fragmented sleep is associated
with behavioural and cognitive difficulties,