NREM Sleep Stimulation Found to Enhance Memory & Cognitive Function
New Delhi: Scientists have discovered a critical mechanism through which sleep improves neuronal and behavioral performance, offering new insights into how sleep enhances brain function. This groundbreaking research could transform our understanding of the cognitive benefits of sleep.
While the link between sleep and cognitive performance is well-established, the neural mechanisms underpinning these benefits—particularly during nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep—remain poorly understood. Researchers from Rice University, Houston Methodist’s Center for Neural Systems Restoration, and Weill Cornell Medical College have addressed this gap in a study published in the journal Science.
The study revealed that NREM sleep, which is the lighter sleep phase often associated with napping, facilitates brain synchronization and enhances information encoding. These findings shed light on how this sleep stage contributes to cognitive and behavioral improvements.
The research team further demonstrated that the effects of NREM sleep could be replicated through invasive stimulation, suggesting exciting potential for neuro-modulation therapies. These therapies could offer innovative treatments for sleep disorders and ways to boost cognitive and behavioral performance.
Dr. Natasha Kharas, a former researcher at Dragoi’s lab and current resident in neurological surgery at Weill Cornell, explained the neural dynamics observed during sleep to IANS. “We saw increased low-frequency delta wave activity and synchronized neuronal firing across cortical regions during sleep,” she noted. Post-sleep, neuronal activity became desynchronized, allowing neurons to function more independently. This shift led to enhanced information processing and improved performance on visual tasks.
The study involved macaques performing visual tasks, where their ability to distinguish rotated images improved significantly after sleep. Crucially, this performance boost was observed only in macaques that fell asleep. Those who remained in quiet wakefulness without sleeping did not show the same enhancement, emphasizing the unique role of sleep in cognitive restoration.
“This finding highlights that some restorative and performance-enhancing effects of sleep might be mimicked artificially,” told IANS Valentin Dragoi, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Rice University.
The discovery that NREM sleep can “reset” the brain and improve cognitive accuracy opens new possibilities for therapeutic interventions. Artificially replicating this process could pave the way for brain stimulation techniques to enhance memory and cognitive function, offering hope for individuals with sleep disorders or cognitive impairments.
These findings mark a significant step toward understanding the restorative power of sleep and its applications in medicine and neuroscience.
Nidhi Srivastava is a dietician. She holds a post-graduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from MRIIRS. With a profound passion for utilizing nutrition and lifestyle modifications to manage diseases, she is dedicated to advancing the field through rigorous research and fact-checking. Her expertise lies in evidence-based practice, ensuring the highest standards of dietary health and wellness.