scholarly journals Dreaming of a Learning Task Is Associated with Enhanced Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 850-855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin J. Wamsley ◽  
Matthew Tucker ◽  
Jessica D. Payne ◽  
Joseph A. Benavides ◽  
Robert Stickgold
Keyword(s):  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Learning Task

036 The Effect of Exercise on Sleep Architecture and Memory Consolidation during a Daytime Nap

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A16-A16
Author(s):  
Megan Collins ◽  
Erin Wamsley ◽  
Hailey Napier ◽  
Madeline Ray
Keyword(s):  
Slow Wave ◽  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Slow Wave Sleep ◽  
Declarative Memory ◽  
Sleep Stage ◽  
Sleep Time ◽  
Learning Task ◽  
Memory Retention ◽  
Verbal Information ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Introduction Slow wave sleep (SWS) is thought to especially benefit declarative memory (i.e., memory for facts and events). As such, recent studies have used various methods to experimentally increase the amount of slow wave sleep that participants obtain, with the goal of assessing how SWS affects declarative memory consolidation. Studies dating back decades have reported that exercising before sleep may increase time spent in SWS. Thus, the aim of the current project was to determine whether exercising after learning verbal information enhances slow wave sleep during a subsequent nap and/or enhances memory for verbal information. Methods Participants who exercised regularly were recruited to attend two 2.5hr laboratory sessions. During each session, they trained on a paired associates learning task and then completed either a 20min cardiovascular exercise routine or a 20min stretching routine. Following a 1hr nap opportunity, participants were tested on their memory. PSG was recorded during the nap, and scored following AASM criteria. Participants were excluded from analysis if they failed to sleep for at least 10 min. Following exclusions, n=30 participants were included in analysis. Results Contrary to our hypotheses, there was no significant difference between the exercise and stretching conditions for minutes spent in slow wave sleep (p=.16), % time spent in slow wave sleep (p=.22), or raw improvement in paired associated performance (p=.23). The amount of SWS obtained during the nap did not correlate with performance in either condition (SWS min vs. memory in exercise condition: r28=.10, p=.60; sleep condition: r28=-.06, p=.74). Exercise did not affect time spent in any other sleep stage, nor did it affect total sleep time. Conclusion Contrary to our hypotheses and the results of prior research, we were unable to detect a significant effect of exercise on slow wave sleep. Also contrary to our hypotheses, exercise did not affect memory retention across the nap interval. These null results could indicate that there is no effect of exercise on nap sleep and/or associated memory retention. However, it could also be that we lacked sufficient power to detect effects that were smaller than expected. Support (if any):

What is consolidated during sleep-dependent motor skill learning?

2005 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca A. Finelli ◽  
Terrence J. Sejnowski
Keyword(s):  
Motor Learning ◽  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Motor Skill ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Learning Task ◽  
Skill Learning ◽  
Motor Skill Learning ◽  
Procedural Skills ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
Speed And Accuracy

Learning procedural skills involves improvement in speed and accuracy. Walker proposes two stages of memory consolidation: enhancement, which requires sleep, and stabilization, which does not require sleep. Speed improvement for a motor learning task but not accuracy occurs after sleep-dependent enhancement. We discuss this finding in the context of computational models and underlying sleep mechanisms.

scholarly journals No evidence for intra-individual correlations between sleep-mediated declarative memory consolidation and slow-wave sleep

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maren Jasmin Cordi ◽  
Björn Rasch
Keyword(s):  
Slow Wave ◽  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Slow Wave Sleep ◽  
Declarative Memory ◽  
Learning Task ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Memory Retention ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Paired Associates ◽  
Small Sample Sizes

Abstract Study Objectives Memory consolidation benefits from a retention period filled with sleep. Several theoretical accounts assume that slow-wave sleep (SWS) contributes functionally to processes underlying the stabilization of declarative memories during sleep. However, reports on correlations between memory retention and the amount of SWS are mixed and typically rely on between-subject correlations and small sample sizes. Here we tested for the first time whether the amount of SWS during sleep predicts the effect of sleep on memory consolidation on an intra-individual level in a large sample. Methods One hundred and fifty-nine healthy participants came to the lab twice and took a 90 min nap in both sessions. Sleep-mediated memory benefits were tested using the paired associates word-learning task in both sessions. Results In contrast to the theoretical prediction, intra-individual differences in sleep-mediated memory benefits did not significantly correlate with differences in SWS or SWA between the two naps. Also between subjects, the amount of SWS did not correlate with memory retention across the nap. However, subjective ratings of sleep quality were significantly associated with the amount of SWS. Conclusion Our results question the notion that the amount of SWS per se is functionally related to processes of memory consolidation during sleep. While our results do not exclude an important role of SWS for memory, they suggest that “more SWS” does not necessarily imply better memory consolidation.

scholarly journals Spontaneous slow oscillation - slow spindle features predict induced overnight memory retention

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fereshteh Dehnavi ◽  
Ping Chai Koo-Poeggel ◽  
Maryam Ghorbani ◽  
Lisa Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Learning Task ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Slow Oscillation ◽  
Memory Retention ◽  
Retention Performance ◽  
Local Networks ◽  
Neural Communication ◽  
Functional Relevance ◽  
With Memory

Abstract Study Objectives Synchronization of neural activity within local networks and between brain regions is a major contributor to rhythmic field potentials such as the EEG. On the other hand, dynamic changes in microstructure and activity are reflected in the EEG, for instance slow oscillation (SO) slope can reflect synaptic strength. SO-spindle coupling is a measure for neural communication. It was previously associated with memory consolidation, but also shown to reveal strong inter-individual differences. In studies, weak electric current stimulation has modulated brain rhythms and memory retention. Here we investigate whether SO-spindle coupling and SO slope during baseline sleep are associated with (predictive of) stimulation efficacy on retention performance. Methods Twenty-five healthy subjects participated in three experimental sessions. Sleep-associated memory consolidation was measured in two sessions, in one anodal transcranial direct current stimulation oscillating at subjects individual SO frequency (so-tDCS) was applied during nocturnal sleep. The third session was without a learning task (baseline sleep). The dependence on SO-spindle coupling and SO-slope during baseline sleep of so-tDCS efficacy on retention performance were investigated. Results Stimulation efficacy on overnight retention of declarative memories was associated with nesting of slow spindles to SO trough in deep non-rapid eye movement baseline sleep. Steepness and direction of SO slope in baseline sleep were features indicative for stimulation efficacy. Conclusions Findings underscore a functional relevance of activity during the SO up-to-down state transition for memory consolidation and provide support for distinct consolidation mechanisms for types of declarative memories.

scholarly journals Dentate spikes and learning: disrupting hippocampal function during memory consolidation can improve pattern separation

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanna Lensu ◽  
Tomi Waselius ◽  
Markku Penttonen ◽  
Miriam S. Nokia
Keyword(s):  
Associative Learning ◽  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Reference Memory ◽  
Learning Task ◽  
Pattern Separation ◽  
Spatial Reference ◽  
Neural Representations ◽  
Spatial Reference Memory ◽  
Reference Memory Task

Hippocampal dentate spikes (DSs) are short-duration, large-amplitude fluctuations in hilar local field potentials and take place while resting and sleeping. During DSs, dentate gyrus granule cells increase firing while CA1 pyramidal cells decrease firing. Recent findings suggest DSs play a significant role in memory consolidation after training on a hippocampus-dependent, nonspatial associative learning task. Here, we aimed to find out whether DSs are important in other types of hippocampus-dependent learning tasks as well. To this end, we trained adult male Sprague-Dawley rats in a spatial reference memory task, a fixed interval task, and a pattern separation task. During a rest period immediately after each training session, we either let neural activity to take place as usual, timed electrical stimulation of the ventral hippocampal commissure (vHC) to immediately follow DSs, or applied the vHC stimulation during a random neural state. We found no effect of vHC stimulation on performance in the spatial reference memory task or in the fixed interval task. Surprisingly, vHC stimulation, especially contingent on DSs, improved performance in the pattern separation task. In conclusion, the behavioral relevance of hippocampal processing and DSs seems to depend on the task at hand. It could be that in an intact brain, offline memory consolidation by default involves associating neural representations of temporally separate but related events. In some cases this might be beneficial for adaptive behavior in the future (associative learning), while in other cases it might not (pattern separation). NEW & NOTEWORTHY The behavioral relevance of dentate spikes seems to depend on the learning task at hand. We suggest that dentate spikes are related to associating neural representations of temporally separate but related events within the dentate gyrus. In some cases this might be beneficial for adaptive behavior in the future (associative learning), while in other cases it might not (pattern separation).

scholarly journals Order matters: sleep spindles contribute to memory consolidation only when followed by rapid-eye-movement sleep

SLEEP ◽  
2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mélanie Strauss ◽  
Lucie Griffon ◽  
Pascal Van Beers ◽  
Maxime Elbaz ◽  
Jason Bouziotis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movement ◽  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Learning Task ◽  
Sleep Cycle ◽  
Sleep Stages ◽  
Sleep Spindles ◽  
Rapid Eye Movement ◽  
Sequential Hypothesis ◽  
Falling Asleep ◽  
Negative Effect

Abstract Sleep is known to benefit memory consolidation, but little is known about the contribution of sleep stages within the sleep cycle. The sequential hypothesis proposes that memories are first replayed during non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM or N) sleep and then integrated into existing networks during rapid-eye-movement (REM or R) sleep, two successive critical steps for memory consolidation. However, it lacks experimental evidence as N always precedes R sleep in physiological conditions. We tested this sequential hypothesis in patients with central hypersomnolence disorder, including patients with narcolepsy who present the unique, anti-physiological peculiarity of frequently falling asleep in R sleep before entering N sleep. Patients performed a visual perceptual learning task before and after daytime naps stopped after one sleep cycle, starting in N or R sleep and followed by the other stage (i.e. N-R vs. R-N sleep sequence). We compared over-nap changes in performance, reflecting memory consolidation, depending on the sleep sequence during the nap. Thirty-six patients who slept for a total of 67 naps were included in the analysis. Results show that sleep spindles are associated with memory consolidation only when N is followed by R sleep, that is in physiologically ordered N-R naps, thus providing support to the sequential hypothesis in humans. In addition, we found a negative effect of rapid-eye-movements in R sleep on perceptual consolidation, highlighting the complex role of sleep stages in the balance to remember and to forget.

scholarly journals The effect of dream report collection and dream incorporation on memory consolidation during sleep

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah F. Schoch ◽  
Maren J. Cordi ◽  
Michael Schredl ◽  
Bjöern Rasch
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Nrem Sleep ◽  
Learning Task ◽  
Association Learning ◽  
Dream Report ◽  
Waking Up ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractWaking up during the night to collect dream reports is a commonly used method to study dreams. This method has also been applied in studies on the relationship between dreams and memory consolidation. However, it is unclear if these awakenings influence ongoing memory consolidation processes. Furthermore, only few studies have examined if task incorporation into dreams is related to enhanced performance in the task. Here we compare memory performance in a word-picture association learning task after a night with (up to six awakenings) and without awakenings in 22 young and healthy participants. We then examine if the task is successfully incorporated into the dreams and if this incorporation is related to the task performance the next morning. We show that while the awakenings impair both subjective and objective sleep quality, these awakenings did not impair ongoing memory consolidation during sleep. When dreams were collected during the night by awakenings, memories of the learning task were successfully incorporated into dreams. No incorporation occurred in dreams collected only in the morning. Task incorporation into NREM sleep dreams, but not REM sleep dreams showed a relationship with task performance the next morning.We conclude that the method of awakenings to collect dream reports is suitable for dream and memory studies, and is even crucial to uncover task incorporations. Furthermore, our study suggests that dreams in NREM rather than REM sleep might be related to processes of memory consolidation during sleep.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document