Parents who want to boost their child's cognitive ability may want to consider telling them to get more sleep, as a new study suggests that while sleeping, the brain's waves boost the ability to learn.

Researchers from the University of California - Berkeley found evidence on bursts of brain waves that are otherwise known as "sleep spindles," which help the brain network in order to boost learning. These spindles are fast pulses of electricity that are brought on during non-REM rest. The study reports that these instances can occur more than 1,000 times each night.

"All these pieces of the puzzle tell a consistent and compelling story - that sleep spindles predict learning refreshment," said Matthew Walker, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at UC Berkeley and senior author of the study.

The researchers suggest that this is further evidence that suggests sleep could actually be beneficial to learning, which is why more individuals should make sure they get the daily recommended amount each night.