Scientists have unlocked new insights into the overnight filing system that allows the brain to find space for new memories.
Cornell University researchers have found that sleep provides a vital zone to reset the memory function and store the information that needs to be kept.
During awake time, new experiences and learning are stored in a region of the brain called the hippocampus.
Later, while we sleep, the same neurons repeat the same pattern of activity, which is how the brain consolidates those memories that are then stored in a large area called the cortex.
The researchers believe the research will give them the tools to boost memory by tinkering with the mechanisms of memory consolidation. This could be applied when memory functions falter, such as in Alzheimer’s disease.
They also believe the research could lead to ways to erase negative or traumatic memories and help treat post-traumatic stress disorder.
The study, published in the journal Science, says that at certain times during deep sleep, certain parts of the hippocampus go silent, allowing those neurons to reset.
“This mechanism could allow the brain to reuse the same resources, the same neurons, for new learning the next day,” the paper’s corresponding editor Assistant Professor Azahara Oliva said.
“The result is important because it helps explain why all animals require sleep, not only to fix memories, but also to reset the brain and keep it working during waking hours. Memory is a dynamic process.”
The researchers implanted electrodes in the hippocampi of mice, which allowed them to record neuronal activity during learning and sleep.
They wanted to better understand how the brain continued learning every day without overloading or running out of neurons.
The full report is on the University of Cornell website.
