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This weakening during sleep allows for strengthening of other connections while we are awake. Learning is the process of strengthening connections, therefore this process could be a major explanation for the benefits that sleep has on memory. [14] Research has shown that taking an afternoon nap increases learning capacity. A study [15] tested ...
Activity of the neocortex during slow wave sleep determines inputs to the hippocampus; thalamocortical sleep spindles and delta waves are the sleep patterns of the neocortex. [11] These inputs contribute to the selection of different neuronal assemblies for initiation of SWRs, and affect the timing of the SWRs. [ 3 ]
In older children and adults, it tends to appear during meditative, drowsy, hypnotic or sleeping states, but not during the deepest stages of sleep. Theta from the midfrontal cortex is specifically related to cognitive control and alterations in these theta signals are found in multiple psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. [15]
Neurophysiological studies have indicated a relationship between increased P-wave density during post-training REM sleep and learning performance. [ 20 ] [ 21 ] Basically, the abundance of PGO waves translates into longer periods of REM sleep, which thereby allows the brain to have longer periods where neuronal connections are formed.
Young woman asleep over study materials. The relationship between sleep and memory has been studied since at least the early 19th century.Memory, the cognitive process of storing and retrieving past experiences, learning and recognition, [1] is a product of brain plasticity, the structural changes within synapses that create associations between stimuli.
More recent studies, however, have looked at the relationship between slow-wave sleep and memory consolidation, rather than REM sleep. One study found that low levels of acetylcholine found in the central nervous system, which are present during slow-wave sleep, aid in the consolidation of memories and therefore assist in the learning process.
The purpose of alpha activity during REM sleep has yet to be fully understood. Currently, there are arguments that alpha patterns are a normal part of REM sleep, and for the notion that it indicates a semi-arousal period. It has been suggested that this alpha activity is inversely related to REM sleep pressure. [citation needed]
It is most readily observed in stages of sleep, for example, rapid eye movement sleep (REM) and the delta activity cycle. When awake, brainwaves are faster during the first half of the cycle which corresponds to feeling alert and focused. During the last 20 minutes brainwaves slow and as the body feels dreamy or tired.