You're more likely to have a great idea after a nap, research shows

Sometimes you're sitting in front of a problem and just can't find the solution. Researchers have now discovered what can help. It takes just 20 minutes. — Photo: Monique Wüstenhagen/dpa

Even a brief sleep can help the brain tackle more challenging tasks, say researchers in Germany who have demonstrated that people who take a 20-minute midday nap are more likely to get a sudden insight than those who don't have a quick snooze.

"Even a very short sleep phase can have an effect on cognitive perception," said developmental psychologist Anika Löwe, who co-authored the study published in the journal PLOS Biology alongside Marit Petzka.