Effects of wakeful rest on memory consolidation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental intervention studies (by design analogy).
PubMed 40087245 · doi:10.3758/s13423-025-02665-x
What was done
The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 37 studies encompassing 63 experiments and 82 comparisons to evaluate the effect of post-learning wakeful rest on memory consolidation. A multilevel random-effects model was used to calculate overall effect sizes and examine potential moderators, including participant age, test type (recall vs. recognition), rest duration, eye state (open vs. closed), luminance, and body posture.
What was found
Wakeful rest produced a statistically significant moderate positive effect on overall memory consolidation (Hedges's g = 0.448, 95% CI [0.339, 0.557], p < .001). This benefit remained detectable after 7 days, though smaller (Hedges's g = 0.270, 95% CI [0.024, 0.516], p = .031). Moderation analyses indicated that older adults gained larger benefits than younger adults, and effects were stronger on recall tasks than recognition tasks. Duration of rest, eye closure, luminance, and body posture did not significantly moderate the effect.
Why it matters
This review establishes a quantitative benchmark for how quiet, offline wakefulness supports memory stabilization and shows that simple cognitive downtime is an effective, non-invasive strategy to aid memory retention, particularly in aging populations.
Limits
The abstract does not report the total participant head count, risk of bias assessments, degree of statistical heterogeneity, or whether publication bias was formally evaluated.
Cited by
- supports The physical rewiring of the brain and consolidation of new neural connections occurs during sleep, meditative states, and rest.