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Navarrete M, Greco V, Rakowska M, Bellesi M, Lewis PA. Auditory stimulation during REM sleep modulates REM electrophysiology and cognitive performance. Commun Biol 2024; 7:193. [PMID: 38365955 PMCID: PMC10873307 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05825-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
REM sleep is critical for memory, emotion, and cognition. Manipulating brain activity during REM could improve our understanding of its function and benefits. Earlier studies have suggested that auditory stimulation in REM might modulate REM time and reduce rapid eye movement density. Building on this, we studied the cognitive effects and electroencephalographic responses related to such stimulation. We used acoustic stimulation locked to eye movements during REM and compared two overnight conditions (stimulation and no-stimulation). We evaluated the impact of this stimulation on REM sleep duration and electrophysiology, as well as two REM-sensitive memory tasks: visual discrimination and mirror tracing. Our results show that this auditory stimulation in REM decreases the rapid eye movements that characterize REM sleep and improves performance on the visual task but is detrimental to the mirror tracing task. We also observed increased beta-band activity and decreased theta-band activity following stimulation. Interestingly, these spectral changes were associated with changes in behavioural performance. These results show that acoustic stimulation can modulate REM sleep and suggest that different memory processes underpin its divergent impacts on cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Navarrete
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Rd, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
- Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
| | - Viviana Greco
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Rd, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Martyna Rakowska
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Rd, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Michele Bellesi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, 62032, Camerino (MC), Italy
| | - Penelope A Lewis
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Rd, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
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Denis D, Bottary R, Cunningham TJ, Drummond SPA, Straus LD. Beta spectral power during sleep is associated with impaired recall of extinguished fear. Sleep 2023; 46:zsad209. [PMID: 37542729 PMCID: PMC10566240 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The failure to retain memory for extinguished fear plays a major role in the maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with successful extinction recall necessary for symptom reduction. Disturbed sleep, a hallmark symptom of PTSD, impairs fear extinction recall. However, our understanding of the electrophysiological mechanisms underpinning sleep's role in extinction retention remains underdetermined. We examined the relationship between the microarchitecture of sleep and extinction recall in healthy humans (n = 71, both male and females included) and a pilot study in individuals with PTSD (n = 12). Participants underwent a fear conditioning and extinction protocol over 2 days, with sleep recording occurring between conditioning and extinction. Twenty-four hours after extinction learning, participants underwent extinction recall. Power spectral density (PSD) was computed for pre- and post-extinction learning sleep. Increased beta-band PSD (~17-26 Hz) during pre-extinction learning sleep was associated with worse extinction recall in healthy participants (r = 0.41, p = .004). Beta PSD was highly stable across three nights of sleep (intraclass correlation coefficients > 0.92). Results suggest beta-band PSD is specifically implicated in difficulties recalling extinguished fear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Denis
- Department of Psychology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Ryan Bottary
- Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology, Widener University, Chester, PA, USA
| | - Tony J Cunningham
- Center for Sleep and Cognition, Psychiatry Department, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sean P A Drummond
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Laura D Straus
- Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Esfahani MJ, Farboud S, Ngo HVV, Schneider J, Weber FD, Talamini LM, Dresler M. Closed-loop auditory stimulation of sleep slow oscillations: Basic principles and best practices. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105379. [PMID: 37660843 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Sleep is essential for our physical and mental well-being. During sleep, despite the paucity of overt behavior, our brain remains active and exhibits a wide range of coupled brain oscillations. In particular slow oscillations are characteristic for sleep, however whether they are directly involved in the functions of sleep, or are mere epiphenomena, is not yet fully understood. To disentangle the causality of these relationships, experiments utilizing techniques to detect and manipulate sleep oscillations in real-time are essential. In this review, we first overview the theoretical principles of closed-loop auditory stimulation (CLAS) as a method to study the role of slow oscillations in the functions of sleep. We then describe technical guidelines and best practices to perform CLAS and analyze results from such experiments. We further provide an overview of how CLAS has been used to investigate the causal role of slow oscillations in various sleep functions. We close by discussing important caveats, open questions, and potential topics for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Soha Farboud
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, the Netherlands
| | - Hong-Viet V Ngo
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, United Kingdom; Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, Germany; Center for Brain, Behaviour and Metabolism, University of Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jules Schneider
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Frederik D Weber
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, the Netherlands; Department of Sleep and Cognition, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lucia M Talamini
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Martin Dresler
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, the Netherlands.
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Yuksel C, Denis D, Coleman J, Oh A, Cox R, Morgan A, Sato E, Stickgold R. Emotional memories are enhanced when reactivated in slow wave sleep, but impaired when reactivated in REM. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.01.530661. [PMID: 36909630 PMCID: PMC10002730 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.01.530661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Sleep supports memory consolidation. However, it is not completely clear how different sleep stages contribute to this process. While rapid eye movement sleep (REM) has been traditionally implicated in the processing of emotionally charged material, recent studies indicate a role for slow wave sleep (SWS) in strengthening the memories of emotional stimuli. Here, to directly examine which sleep stage is primarily involved in emotional memory consolidation, we used targeted memory reactivation (TMR) in REM and SWS during a daytime nap. We also examined neural oscillations associated with TMR-related changes in memory. Contrary to our hypothesis, reactivation of emotional stimuli during REM led to impaired memory. Meanwhile, reactivation of emotional stimuli in SWS improved memory and was strongly correlated with the product of times spent in REM and SWS (%SWS Ã- %REM). When this variable was taken into account, reactivation significantly enhanced memory, with larger reactivation benefits compared to reactivation in REM. Notably, sleep spindle activity was modulated by emotional valence, and delta/theta activity was correlated with the memory benefit for both emotional and neutral items. Finally, we found no evidence that emotional memories benefited from TMR more than did neutral ones. Our results provide direct evidence for a complementary role of both REM and SWS in emotional memory consolidation, and suggest that REM may separately facilitate forgetting. In addition, our findings expand upon recent evidence indicating a link between sleep spindles and emotional processing.
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Guttesen AÁV, Gaskell MG, Madden EV, Appleby G, Cross ZR, Cairney SA. Sleep loss disrupts the neural signature of successful learning. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:1610-1625. [PMID: 35470400 PMCID: PMC9977378 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep supports memory consolidation as well as next-day learning. The influential "Active Systems" account of offline consolidation suggests that sleep-associated memory processing paves the way for new learning, but empirical evidence in support of this idea is scarce. Using a within-subjects (n = 30), crossover design, we assessed behavioral and electrophysiological indices of episodic encoding after a night of sleep or total sleep deprivation in healthy adults (aged 18-25 years) and investigated whether behavioral performance was predicted by the overnight consolidation of episodic associations from the previous day. Sleep supported memory consolidation and next-day learning as compared to sleep deprivation. However, the magnitude of this sleep-associated consolidation benefit did not significantly predict the ability to form novel memories after sleep. Interestingly, sleep deprivation prompted a qualitative change in the neural signature of encoding: Whereas 12-20 Hz beta desynchronization-an established marker of successful encoding-was observed after sleep, sleep deprivation disrupted beta desynchrony during successful learning. Taken together, these findings suggest that effective learning depends on sleep but not necessarily on sleep-associated consolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Á V Guttesen
- Department of Psychology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - M Gareth Gaskell
- Department of Psychology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.,York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Emily V Madden
- Department of Psychology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Gabrielle Appleby
- Department of Psychology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Zachariah R Cross
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments, Mawson Lakes Campus, Mawson Lakes, South Australia 5095, Australia
| | - Scott A Cairney
- Department of Psychology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.,York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
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Emotional Memory Processing during REM Sleep with Implications for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. J Neurosci 2023; 43:433-446. [PMID: 36639913 PMCID: PMC9864570 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1020-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
REM sleep is important for the processing of emotional memories, including fear memories. Rhythmic interactions, especially in the theta band, between the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and limbic structures are thought to play an important role, but the ways in which memory processing occurs at a mechanistic and circuits level are largely unknown. To investigate how rhythmic interactions lead to fear extinction during REM sleep, we used a biophysically based model that included the infralimbic cortex (IL), a part of the mPFC with a critical role in suppressing fear memories. Theta frequency (4-12 Hz) inputs to a given cell assembly in IL, representing an emotional memory, resulted in the strengthening of connections from the IL to the amygdala and the weakening of connections from the amygdala to the IL, resulting in the suppression of the activity of fear expression cells for the associated memory. Lower frequency (4 Hz) theta inputs effected these changes over a wider range of input strengths. In contrast, inputs at other frequencies were ineffective at causing these synaptic changes and did not suppress fear memories. Under post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) REM sleep conditions, rhythmic activity dissipated, and 4 Hz theta inputs to IL were ineffective, but higher-frequency (10 Hz) theta inputs to IL induced changes similar to those seen with 4 Hz inputs under normal REM sleep conditions, resulting in the suppression of fear expression cells. These results suggest why PTSD patients may repeatedly experience the same emotionally charged dreams and suggest potential neuromodulatory therapies for the amelioration of PTSD symptoms.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Rhythmic interactions in the theta band between the mPFC and limbic structures are thought to play an important role in processing emotional memories, including fear memories, during REM sleep. The infralimbic cortex (IL) in the mPFC is thought to play a critical role in suppressing fear memories. We show that theta inputs to the IL, unlike other frequency inputs, are effective in producing synaptic changes that suppress the activity of fear expression cells associated with a given memory. Under PTSD REM sleep conditions, lower-frequency (4 Hz) theta inputs to the IL do not suppress the activity of fear expression cells associated with the given memory but, surprisingly, 10 Hz inputs do. These results suggest potential neuromodulatory therapies for PTSD.
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Abstract
Sleep plays a crucial role in the consolidation of memories, including those for fear acquisition and extinction training. This chapter reviews findings from studies testing this relationship in laboratory, naturalistic, and clinical settings. While evidence is mixed, several studies in humans have linked fear and extinction recall/retention to both rapid eye-movement and slow wave sleep. Sleep appears to further aid in the processing of both simulated and actual trauma and improves psychotherapeutic treatment outcomes in those with anxiety and trauma- and stressor-related disorders. This chapter concludes with a discussion of the current challenges facing sleep and emotional memory research in addition to suggestions for improving future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Bottary
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Laura D Straus
- Department of Research, San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Edward F Pace-Schott
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA.
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA.
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Sahu M, Tripathi R, Jha NK, Jha SK, Ambasta RK, Kumar P. Cross talk mechanism of disturbed sleep patterns in neurological and psychological disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 140:104767. [PMID: 35811007 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The incidence and prevalence of sleep disorders continue to increase in the elderly populace, particularly those suffering from neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. This not only affects the quality of life but also accelerates the progression of the disease. There are many reasons behind sleep disturbances in such patients, for instance, medication use, nocturia, obesity, environmental factors, nocturnal motor disturbances and depressive symptoms. This review focuses on the mechanism and effects of sleep dysfunction in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Wherein we discuss disturbed circadian rhythm, signaling cascade and regulation of genes during sleep deprivation. Moreover, we explain the perturbation in brainwaves during disturbed sleep and the ocular perspective of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric manifestations in sleep disorders. Further, as the pharmacological approach is often futile and carries side effects, therefore, the non-pharmacological approach opens newer possibilities to treat these disorders and widens the landscape of treatment options for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehar Sahu
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Delhi Technological University (Formerly Delhi College of Engineering), Delhi, India
| | - Rahul Tripathi
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Delhi Technological University (Formerly Delhi College of Engineering), Delhi, India
| | - Niraj Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering & Technology (SET) Sharda University, UP, India
| | - Saurabh Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering & Technology (SET) Sharda University, UP, India.
| | - Rashmi K Ambasta
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Delhi Technological University (Formerly Delhi College of Engineering), Delhi, India
| | - Pravir Kumar
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Delhi Technological University (Formerly Delhi College of Engineering), Delhi, India.
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Ashton JE, Staresina BP, Cairney SA. Sleep bolsters schematically incongruent memories. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269439. [PMID: 35749391 PMCID: PMC9231735 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Our ability to recall memories is improved when sleep follows learning, suggesting that sleep facilitates memory consolidation. A number of factors are thought to influence the impact of sleep on newly learned information, such as whether or not we rehearse that information (e.g. via restudy or retrieval practice), or the extent to which the information is consistent with our pre-existing schematic knowledge. In this pre-registered, online study, we examined the effects of both rehearsal and schematic congruency on overnight consolidation. Participants learned noun-colour pairings (e.g. elephant-red) and rated each pairing as plausible or implausible before completing a baseline memory assessment. Afterwards, participants engaged in a period of restudy or retrieval practice for the pairings, and then entered a 12 h retention interval of overnight sleep or daytime wakefulness. Follow-up assessments were completed immediately after sleep or wake, and again 24 h after learning. Our data indicated that overnight consolidation was amplified for restudied relative to retested noun-colour pairings, but only when sleep occurred soon after learning. Furthermore, whereas plausible (i.e. schematically congruent) pairings were generally better remembered than implausible (i.e. schematically incongruent) pairings, the benefits of sleep were stronger for implausible relative to plausible memories. These findings challenge the notion that schema-conformant memories are preferentially strengthened during post-learning sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Scott A. Cairney
- Department of Psychology, University of York, York, United Kingdom
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Real-Time Excitation of Slow Oscillations during Deep Sleep Using Acoustic Stimulation. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21155169. [PMID: 34372405 PMCID: PMC8347755 DOI: 10.3390/s21155169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Slow-wave synchronous acoustic stimulation is a promising research and therapeutic tool. It is essential to clearly understand the principles of the synchronization methods, to know their performances and limitations, and, most importantly, to have a clear picture of the effect of stimulation on slow-wave activity (SWA). This paper covers the mentioned and currently missing parts of knowledge that are essential for the appropriate development of the method itself and future applications. Artificially streamed real sleep EEG data were used to quantitatively compare the two currently used real-time methods: the phase-locking loop (PLL) and the fixed-step stimulus in our own implementation. The fixed-step stimulation method was concluded to be more reliable and practically applicable compared to the PLL method. The sleep experiment with chronic insomnia patients in our sleep laboratory was analyzed in order to precisely characterize the effect of sound stimulation during deep sleep. We found that there is a significant phase synchronization of delta waves, which were shown to be the most sensitive metric of the effect of acoustic stimulation compared to commonly used averaged signal and power analyses. This finding may change the understanding of the effect and function of the SWA stimulation described in the literature.
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Harrington MO, Cairney SA. Sounding It Out: Auditory Stimulation and Overnight Memory Processing. CURRENT SLEEP MEDICINE REPORTS 2021; 7:112-119. [PMID: 34722123 PMCID: PMC8550047 DOI: 10.1007/s40675-021-00207-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
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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