quote:
Originally posted by Alex K. Viefhaus:
I don't know if sleep "learning" is the best name for it.Studies being done in the German University [Lubbeck? have to find the article to be sure]. Has shown that the brain continues to try and find a solution to perplexting problems we encounter during the day.
We can give the mind a problem to solve during out sleep, by presenting it to our mind just before sleep but how many of us manage to stay focused long enough just before falling asleep?
Paraliminals don't solve the problems for you they trigger your own mind to discover the solutions. So starting with a Paraliminal just before sleep helps to focus your mind on the thing you want a solution to.
Based on my research into the subject. I wouldn't use the same Paraliminal night after night nor would I cycle the sleep learning part endlessly thoughout the night. All things in moderation 
Alex
Ok, I see what you mean. The term 'sleep learning' is, as you probably know, most commonly used with regards to the aquisition of new knowledge or skills while sleeping through playing a recording in the background. What you are referring to is the integration of knowledge during sleep - which may in turn lead to the aquisition of new skills. There are numerous studies on this stuff.
One function of REM sleep seems to be the integration of new information with old. When students were awoken during REM sleep in a university study, they did not remember as much of what they had learned the previous day as the control group of students that were awoken at random times during sleep. This means that a large part of learning probably does occur during REM sleep.
Paraliminals may very well help with integrating new information, but I don't think there is much evidence to suggest that they are of any benefit if played over and over while you're asleep. My guess is that to get the most out of a good night's sleep in order to learn something one should sleep in a quiet environment and let the brain go about its business without interruptions of any kind - including paraliminals.