Brain uses sleep time to consolidate memories acquired during the day
The evidence is growing that the brain uses sleep time to consolidate memories acquired during the day. Scientists measure the signals from the brain of rats found distinctive patterns of activity in some areas of the brain during sleep. Their analysis suggests that the signals are reverberations that last up to 48 hours after a new experience. The finding, by Duke University Medical Center, will help scientists hunting genes key to memory formation. The research team used a network of 100 recording electrodes inserted into the brains of mice, in four regions of the brain areas traditionally associated with memory.The rats were in dark environments, which provide for further exploration. Different objects were created to search the area for them. The researchers then
called sleep cycles for signs of activity during dream sleep stage and saw the rapid eye movement sleep. The first is a deep sleep without dreams, during REM sleep is linked to dreaming. After the rats had been looking for in an external environment, which was a characteristic pattern of brain activity, especially in sleep.This differs from the brain waves that followed the work in a family environment. Previous studies have shown that during REM sleep, genes are activated that appear to play a role in memory consolidation. Dr. Ribeiro Sidarta two phases, one of the authors of the study, said: If proposing that the two stages play separate and complementary roles in memory consolidation. The periods of slow wave sleep are very long and produce a recall and amplification,probably, of memory traces. Therefore, REM sleep episodes, which are very short, trigger the expression of genes to store what was processed during slow-wave sleep.
The next step in their research is to conduct experiments for long periods - and perhaps genetically modified mice to work on genes that are critical for memory storage.