When you learn a new skill, like playing the piano or mastering a golf swing, you might have heard that “practice makes perfect.” But according to a new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the timing of your sleep could be just as important as the practice itself. Researchers found that motor memories—our brain’s way of holding on to skills and actions—are not just consolidated over time, but they can be significantly enhanced when sleep closely follows practice. The research team set out to explore a longstanding debate in neuroscience: Does sleep play a role in consolidating moto…