University of Michigan research reveals that sleep enhances memory formation through neuron activation, while sleep deprivation significantly impairs this process, affecting long-term memory retention. Two University of Michigan studies show that sleep is essential for memory because it allows specific neurons to reactivate and replay experiences. Sleep deprivation disrupts this process, leading to impaired memory retention.
Even catching up on sleep does not fully restore memory reactivation, highlighting the critical role of sleep in memory consolidation. Imagine you’re a student, it’s finals week, and you’re preparing for a big exam: do you pull an all-nighter or do you get some rest? As many a groggy-eyed person who’s stared blankly at a test knows, a lack of sleep can make it extraordinarily difficult to retain information. Two new studies from the University of Michigan uncover why this is and what is happening inside the brain during sleep and sleep deprivation to help or harm the formation of memories.
Specific neurons can be tuned to specific stimuli. For example, rats in a maze will have neurons that light up once the animal reaches specific spots in the maze. These neurons, called place neurons, are also active in people and help people navigate their environment.
But what happens during sleep? “If that neuron is responding during sleep, what can you infer from that?” said Kamran Diba, Ph.D., associate professor of Anesthesiology at U-M Medical School.
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