Question: do you think people with insomnia have poorer memorys

Alex Reid answered on 15 Nov 2018:

Hi Not a scientist thank you for the question. Sleep serves a very important function in memory processing. It helps integrate new memories with what you already know, strengthens some memories, and in some cases you can even get better at tasks (like riding a bike) without the need for further training! It follows that any type of sleep disruption can reduce the amount of memory consolidation which, in turn, might make you less efficient at the above. This is just how sleep helps dealing with memories that are already in your head though. Getting them in there in the first place is another matter. If you are tired or exhausted you will have trouble concentrating and learning new things. People with insomnia can also have issues with working memory as well (your short term memory buffer). In short, yes people with insomnia probably do have worse memories than those without, and this might happen in different ways.