What if your brain could get the benefits of a nap without actually falling asleep? That’s the question researchers are exploring after a recent study in Science showed promising results — at least in monkeys.
Artificial naps show surprising results
In a recent study, scientists found that brief naps (without REM sleep) improved visual task performance in macaque monkeys. The surprise came when researchers replicated this brain boost by electrically stimulating the monkeys’ brains while they were awake. The stimulation mimicked sleep-like brain activity and produced similar cognitive improvements.
These so-called “artificial naps” hint at a possible future where the brain could be refreshed without actual sleep. While this technique is still limited to primates, it opens the door to new research in humans, especially for those with sleep disorders or limited time for rest.
What we know about real napping
While artificial naps are still experimental, there is growing research on how regular daytime naps affect human health. At this time, the findings are conflicting. Some studies show benefits, while others show risks related to daytime napping.
Recent studies include:
- Nap habits and health risks
A large analysis presented at SLEEP 2025 found that longer naps, inconsistent nap durations, and frequent naps around midday were linked to an increased risk of mortality in middle- and older-aged adults. - Napping and brain preservation
A 2023 study led by researchers at University College London and the University of the Republic in Uruguay found that people who regularly napped had larger total brain volume. This suggests that habitual napping may slow brain shrinkage and support brain health as we age. - Napping and dementia risk
A 2022 study from researchers at UC San Francisco and Harvard Medical School tracked older adults and found that those who napped more than an hour a day, or napped at least once a day, had a 40% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who napped less frequently or for shorter durations.
These findings suggest that not all naps are created equal, and more research is needed. Frequency, duration and timing may all influence long-term health outcomes.
Nap smarter, not longer
So how long should a nap be?
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that healthy adults limit daytime naps to 20 to 30 minutes, ideally taken in the early afternoon. These short naps can improve alertness, mood and performance without interfering with nighttime sleep or causing post-nap grogginess, or “sleep inertia.”
What’s next for artificial napping?
Could brain stimulation ever be used to mimic a nap in humans? A Scientific American article suggests that if the method proves effective, artificial naps could one day help enhance cognition, reduce fatigue or support people with sleep disorders.
For now, the best advice is to keep naps brief and intentional. But in the future, the science of sleep may offer new ways to rest — no shut-eye required.
Medical review by Margaret Hovda, MD
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Authored by: Kate Robards
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