The association between lack of sleep and a declining GPA is not clear. Sleeping for prolonged, uninterrupted periods promotes REM sleep, which is characterised by unconscious rapid eye movement and intense brain activity. Creswell suspects that a consistent pattern of insufficient sleep accumulates a “sleep debt” over time, rendering students unable to concentrate.

“These college students are going to class with a ton of sleep debt, and they’re having trouble staying focused and learning in college classrooms,” Creswell informed. “Sleep debt can harm your ability to engage with the study material.”