<p><a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/106/25/10130.full" rel="nofollow">This</a> study found that REM sleep "enhances the integration of unassociated information for creative problem solving", and to an extent that surpasses the benefits of "quiet rest and non-REM sleep". try a google scholar search for '<a href="http://scholar.google.ca/scholar?hl=en&amp;q=psychology%20sleep%20%20incubation%20&amp;btnG=Search&amp;as_sdt=0,5&amp;as_ylo=&amp;as_vis=0" rel="nofollow">psychology sleep  incubation </a>'. </p>

<p>Interestingly, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagusstoff" rel="nofollow">the experiment that yielded the first discovery of a neurotransmitter</a> was famously claimed to have been conceived of during a dream and was conducted during the middle of that same night. The scientist, Otto Lowel, had failed to successfully document the same dream nights prior.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-28T20:40:54.130Z
2012-03-29T03:51:18.003Z
2012-03-29T03:51:18.003Z
Matt Munson
<p>In <a href="https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/1/how-is-it-that-taking-a-break-from-a-problem-sometimes-allows-you-to-figure-out">this question</a> it is described that intentionally <em>not thinking about a problem</em> can allow the subsonscious to find an answer to the problem; this is known as <em>incubation</em>. I have heard and read it a few times that if you want to solve a tough problem you can read/think about it just before going to bed and let the brain come up with a solution while you sleep.  (I can find no references for this at the moment, however. Sorry)</p>

<p>Also, there have been few cases that provided a solution during sleep. (Benzene structure is one which I remember) Is it mere chance or false advertising, or is the brain really capable of incubating on an idea during sleep?</p>

<p>A robotics guy I saw on TED claimed that he used to keep a notebook by the bed, so that he could jot down the ideas if any came to him during sleep.</p>

<p>Can one's brain incubate on an idea while sleeping? Can one train one's brain to incubate on a specific idea during sleep?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-23T17:20:17.547Z
Possible duplicate: [How is it that taking a break from a problem sometimes allows you to figure out the answer?](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/1)
Josh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-23T17:22:09.830Z
@JoshGitlin No. that's taking a break from what you were doing. It's sleeping and telling your brain to think about specific things only.
Anubhav
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-23T17:23:28.120Z
So you're asking *specifically* about sleep? Are you asking *Can one train their brain to incubate on a specific idea while sleeping?*
Josh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-23T17:27:58.637Z
@JoshGitlin yes. Exactly that.
Anubhav
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-23T17:42:09.577Z
Again, I edited your question and tried to not change your meaning; please roll back if you feel I was in error. In it's current form I no longer feel this is a duplicate. Also, **Welcome to Cog Sci Anubhav Saini!**
Josh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-25T13:59:47.920Z
_"I can find no references for this at the moment, however. Sorry"_ If you can't find _any_ reference (read it doesn't even have to be academic) then this question isn't based on much is it? Please at least google a bit and see whether you can find _any_ reference to back up this assumption. I don't understand the 'Benzene structure' reference, could you add a link, expand on it please? Also please link to the TED talk. Looking forward to your edits! ;p
Steven Jeuris
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-25T15:09:21.033Z
I wrote about it in more detail [in this Meta post](http://meta.cogsci.stackexchange.com/a/226/21).
Steven Jeuris
<learning><sleep><problem-solving>
Can one incubate on a specific idea in one's sleep?
Anubhav
# Can one incubate on a specific idea in one's sleep?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-03-23)

In [this question](https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/1/how-is-it-that-taking-a-break-from-a-problem-sometimes-allows-you-to-figure-out) it is described that intentionally *not thinking about a problem* can allow the subsonscious to find an answer to the problem; this is known as *incubation*. I have heard and read it a few times that if you want to solve a tough problem you can read/think about it just before going to bed and let the brain come up with a solution while you sleep. (I can find no references for this at the moment, however. Sorry)

Also, there have been few cases that provided a solution during sleep. (Benzene structure is one which I remember) Is it mere chance or false advertising, or is the brain really capable of incubating on an idea during sleep?

A robotics guy I saw on TED claimed that he used to keep a notebook by the bed, so that he could jot down the ideas if any came to him during sleep.

Can one's brain incubate on an idea while sleeping? Can one train one's brain to incubate on a specific idea during sleep?

**Tags:** learning, sleep, problem-solving

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Possible duplicate: [How is it that taking a break from a problem sometimes allows you to figure out the answer?](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/1)  
> **username_0**: @username_1Gitlin No. that's taking a break from what you were doing. It's sleeping and telling your brain to think about specific things only.  
> **username_1**: So you're asking *specifically* about sleep? Are you asking *Can one train their brain to incubate on a specific idea while sleeping?*  
> **username_0**: @username_1Gitlin yes. Exactly that.  
> **username_1**: Again, I edited your question and tried to not change your meaning; please roll back if you feel I was in error. In it's current form I no longer feel this is a duplicate. Also, **Welcome to Cog Sci username_0 Saini!**  
> **username_2**: _"I can find no references for this at the moment, however. Sorry"_ If you can't find _any_ reference (read it doesn't even have to be academic) then this question isn't based on much is it? Please at least google a bit and see whether you can find _any_ reference to back up this assumption. I don't understand the 'Benzene structure' reference, could you add a link, expand on it please? Also please link to the TED talk. Looking forward to your edits! ;p  
> **username_2**: I wrote about it in more detail [in this Meta post](http://meta.cogsci.stackexchange.com/a/226/21).  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-03-28. Score: 5

[This](http://www.pnas.org/content/106/25/10130.full) study found that REM sleep "enhances the integration of unassociated information for creative problem solving", and to an extent that surpasses the benefits of "quiet rest and non-REM sleep". try a google scholar search for '[psychology sleep incubation](http://scholar.google.ca/scholar?hl=en&q=psychology%20sleep%20%20incubation%20&btnG=Search&as_sdt=0,5&as_ylo=&as_vis=0) '.

Interestingly, [the experiment that yielded the first discovery of a neurotransmitter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagusstoff) was famously claimed to have been conceived of during a dream and was conducted during the middle of that same night. The scientist, Otto Lowel, had failed to successfully document the same dream nights prior.


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