How the Brain Strengthens Memory in Sleep

New Research Into Underlying Brain Mechanisms

We know that sleep helps to build memory - we know some of the mechanisms but some remain elusive - new research is giving some fascinating insights.

A good night’s sleep is good for you for many reasons. Something I have written about multiple times before – you can read a review here.

We know that sleep helps with just about everything, and just about everything to do with physical and mental health also – but it is also known that sleep is when the majority of learning takes place. So, sleep is essential to learning.

Some of these mechanisms we have been able to research in other animals but many of the precise mechanisms remain unknown i.e. what is happening between the brain cells and between brain regions and how do our sleep phases contribute to this learning process?

Two studies have just been published which gives us some fascinating and deeper insights into how the brain consolidates and strengthens memories during sleep.

Using Deep Brain Implants in Humans

Brain implants have been here for a while now, in case you didn’t know. These are electrodes that are implanted deep within the brain and controlled by a small battery – a pacemaker for the brain. These have been used to treat drug resistant depression, but also to help stop dangerous and repetitive seizures in those with severe epilepsy.

These implants have a therapeutic purpose, but they can also be used to read signals deep inside the brain and get a glimpse into the human brain that otherwise would not be possible. And this is what Creery et al. of Northwestern University in the USA did to investigate memory formation.