Three days after leaving Canada for the United States, I still hadn't slept and had to find my way to Meramec for my first day of 'university. The initial problem was finding my way to campus. As I held the handwritten card in my hand, I remember looking at it and not knowing how to use it because I was so exhausted. After an exhausting trip, I found a parking space and trudged to my first class (which was a blur). I couldn't focus on what should have been one of the most exciting days of my life. Everything around me seemed out of place and I could barely speak coherent sentences to my classmates. When class finally ended, I walked aimlessly around campus trying to find where I had parked. I could never remember where I left my car. After about fifteen minutes, a kind young man noticed my “fugue state” and offered to drive me back until we found my car. Without him, I would have spent the next few hours aimlessly wandering around the large campus. This story shows that sleep is vital for memory and learning. Sleep is not usually something that students consider essential when it comes to higher order memory and brain function, but as I have learned, it is crucial. Many studies show that a full night's rest is crucial for memory and learning because it gives the brain the opportunity to consolidate facts and information learned throughout the day. On the other hand, if a person's sleep is disrupted for long periods of time, it can have significant effects on brain function, leading to poor concentration and judgment, decreased reaction time, and impaired functioning. memory. As my story above shows, sleep plays an imperative role in memory. Sleep is caused by natural cycles of activity... middle of paper ...... consequences in terms of concentration, attention and awareness in the brain which will create difficulties in new learning. Taken as a whole, each sleep state, REM and non-REM, plays a crucial role in memory and learning. Without it, our brain would not have the opportunity to consolidate the new ideas and concepts learned over days or even years. Numerous studies have shown that sleep is directly correlated with learning through similar brain functions activated when animals and humans were both awake and asleep. If adequate amount of sleep is not allowed, lack of sleep will impair the functionality of the brain. This will create neural performance problems in areas such as the cerebral cortex, thereby leading to impaired judgment, behavior, concentration, memory and learning. Overall, it's clear that a good night's sleep plays a vital role in learning and memory..