REM sleep, dreaming, and procedural memory

2005 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-81
Author(s):  
Michael Schredl
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Disorders ◽  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Procedural Memory ◽  
Memory Processes ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Robust Evidence ◽  
Existing Data

In this commentary the “incredibly robust” evidence for the relationship between sleep and procedural memory is questioned; inconsistencies in the existing data are pointed out. In addition, some suggestions about extending research are made, for example, studying REM sleep augmentation or memory consolidation in patients with sleep disorders. Last, the possibility of a relationship between dreaming and memory processes is discussed.

scholarly journals Contribution of REM sleep and N2 sleep spindles to procedural memory consolidation in Vipassana meditators and non-meditating controls.

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizaveta Solomonova ◽  
Simon Dubé ◽  
Cloé Blanchette-Carrière ◽  
Arnaud Samson-Richer ◽  
Michelle Carr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movement ◽  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Nrem Sleep ◽  
Procedural Memory ◽  
Sleep Stages ◽  
Sleep Spindles ◽  
Meditation Practice ◽  
Rapid Eye Movement ◽  
Vipassana Meditation

Study objectives: Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and sleep spindles are all implicated in the consolidation of procedural memories. The relative contributions of sleep stages and sleep spindles was previously shown to depend on individual differences in task processing. Experience with Vipassana meditation is one such individual difference that has not been investigated in relation to sleep. Vipassana meditation is a form of mental training that enhances proprioceptive and somatic awareness and alters attentional style. The goal was thus to examine a potential moderating role for Vipassana meditation experience on sleep-dependent procedural memory consolidation.Methods: Groups of Vipassana meditation practitioners (N=20) and matched meditation-naïve controls (N=20) slept for a single daytime nap in the laboratory. Before and after the nap they completed a procedural task on the Wii Fit balance platform.Results: Meditators performed slightly better on the task before the nap, but the two groups improved similarly after sleep. The groups showed different patterns of sleep-dependent procedural memory consolidation: in meditators task learning was negatively correlated with density of fast and positively correlated with density of slow occipital spindles, while in controls task improvement was associated with increases in REM sleep. Meditation practitioners had a lower density of sleep spindles, especially in occipital regions.Conclusions: Results suggest that neuroplastic changes associated with sustained meditation practice may alter overall sleep architecture and reorganize sleep-dependent patterns of memory consolidation. The lower density of spindles in meditators may mean that meditation practice compensates for some of the memory functions of sleep.

The Relationship Between REM Sleep and Memory Consolidation in Old Age and Effects of Cholinergic Medication

2007 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 750-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orla P. Hornung ◽  
Francesca Regen ◽  
Heidi Danker-Hopfe ◽  
Michael Schredl ◽  
Isabella Heuser
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
The Relationship

Strengthening Procedural Memories by Reactivation in Sleep

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Schönauer ◽  
Teresa Geisler ◽  
Steffen Gais
Keyword(s):  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Prior Experience ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Sleep Time ◽  
Procedural Memory ◽  
Auditory Cues ◽  
Specific Process ◽  
Specific Stage ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Robust Evidence

There is robust evidence that sleep facilitates procedural memory consolidation. The exact mechanisms underlying this process are still unclear. We tested whether an active replay of prior experience can underlie sleep effects on procedural memory. Participants learned a finger-tapping task in which key presses were associated with tones during practice. Later, during a consolidation interval spent either sleeping or awake, we presented auditory cues to reactivate part of the learned sequence. We show that reactivation strengthens procedural memory formation during sleep, but not during wakefulness. The improvement was restricted to those finger transitions that were cued. Thus, reactivation is a very specific process underpinning procedural memory consolidation. When comparing periods of sleep with and without reactivation, we find that it is not the time spent in a specific stage of sleep per se, but rather the occurrence of reactivation that mediates the effect of sleep on memory consolidation. Our data show that longer sleep time as well as additional reactivation by cueing during sleep can enhance later memory performance.

REM sleep is not committed to memory

2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1057-1063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert P. Vertes ◽  
Kathleen E. Eastman
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Theta Rhythm ◽  
Antidepressant Drugs ◽  
Procedural Memory ◽  
Mnemonic Function

We believe that this has been a constructive debate on the topic of memory consolidation and REM sleep. It was a lively and spirited exchange – the essence of science. A number of issues were discussed including: the pedestal technique, stress, and early REMD work in animals; REM windows; the processing of declarative versus procedural memory in REM in humans; a mnemonic function for theta rhythm in waking but not in REM sleep; the lack of cognitive deficits in patients on antidepressant drugs that suppress or eliminate REM sleep; the disposition of conscious (dreams) and nonconscious material of REM sleep; and finally our theory of REM sleep. Although our position was strongly challenged, we still hold that REM sleep serves no role in the processing and consolidation of memory.

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.

The significance of non-REM sleep for memory processes in elderly subjects

2004 ◽  
Vol 36 (05) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Albrecht ◽  
OP Hornung ◽  
F Regen ◽  
H Danker-Hopfe ◽  
M Schreqdl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Memory Processes

Management of Platelets in a Persian Girl with the Tetralogy_Pantalogy of Fallot (Tof_Pof): A Case Report Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahram Alamdary Badlou
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Ventricular Septal Defect ◽  
Atrial Septal Defect ◽  
Sleep Disorders ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Rare Case ◽  
Septal Defect ◽  
Old Persian ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
The Relationship

We report a rare case of unrepaired Tetralogy_Pantalogy of Fallot (TOF_POF) in a 20 years old Persian girl Mrs Zeynab S., who presented with cyanotic finger tops appearance, ongoing chronic thrombolytic destruction processes, and remarkable thrombocytopenia [1,2], heart ventricular septal defect (VSD), and might atrial septal defect (ASD), anxiety, sleep disorders, nightmares, and limited social life. Additionally, the relationship between underlying mechanisms, possible treatments of the thrombocytopenia, erythrocytosis, and unrepaired cardiovascular leakages remains unknown.

scholarly journals Sounding It Out: Auditory Stimulation and Overnight Memory Processing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus O. Harrington ◽  
Scott A. Cairney
Keyword(s):  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Slow Wave Sleep ◽  
Auditory Stimulation ◽  
Theta Oscillations ◽  
Neural Oscillations ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Memory Processing ◽  
Eeg Recordings

Abstract Purpose of Review Auditory stimulation is a technique that can enhance neural oscillations linked to overnight memory consolidation. In this review, we evaluate the impacts of auditory stimulation on the neural oscillations of sleep and associated memory processes in a variety of populations. Recent Findings Cortical EEG recordings of slow-wave sleep (SWS) are characterised by two cardinal oscillations: slow oscillations (SOs) and sleep spindles. Auditory stimulation delivered in SWS enhances SOs and phase-coupled spindle activity in healthy children and adults, children with ADHD, adults with mild cognitive impairment and patients with major depression. Under certain conditions, auditory stimulation bolsters the benefits of SWS for memory consolidation, although further work is required to fully understand the factors affecting stimulation-related memory gains. Recent work has turned to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, demonstrating that auditory stimulation can be used to manipulate REM sleep theta oscillations. Summary Auditory stimulation enhances oscillations linked to overnight memory processing and shows promise as a technique for enhancing the memory benefits of sleep.

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