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from the it's-the-end-of-the-world^W^W-sleep-as-we-know-it-♫♫ dept.
Researchers identify neurons responsible for memory consolidation during REM sleep:
In a study published this month in Neuron, researchers from University of Tsukuba and the University of Tokyo have revealed that adult-born neurons (ABNs) in the hippocampus, which is a brain region associated with memory, are responsible for memory consolidation during REM sleep.
Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons are formed, takes place in the hippocampus throughout the lifespan of animals, including humans. At present, little is known about the contribution of ABNs to memory formation during sleep, something the researchers at University of Tsukuba and the University of Tokyo aimed to address.
[...] "We found that young ABNs that were most active during REM sleep after the memory task were most likely to have been active during learning," explains Professor Masashi Yanagisawa, the other senior author of the study. "Further, when we then examined the effects of optogenetic silencing on young ABN activity during sleep, we found that the consolidation of contextual fear memories was impaired."
Journal Reference: Deependra Kumar, Iyo Koyanagi, Alvaro Carrier-Ruiz, et al. Sparse Activity of Hippocampal Adult-Born Neurons during REM Sleep Is Necessary for Memory Consolidation. Neuron, 2020; DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.05.008
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 09 2020, @04:23AM (4 children)
No no no, I've got this.
Ok, I've got nothing.
Where am I?
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday June 09 2020, @04:37AM (3 children)
You're in a simulation.
Yes, this is the best one you could afford.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by looorg on Tuesday June 09 2020, @11:13AM (2 children)
So no hot lady in red or Kung-Fu? Is that what you are telling me? Shiiiiiit .....
So back to the article. Does this mean that we'll eventually see memory-pills, better learning drugs and well just pills that removes (or minimize) the need for sleep -- not sure I'm going to like the last one, I like sleeping.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 09 2020, @11:22AM
Enhancement will likely, via drugs, come from forcing the brain fo stay in learning mode. So more sleep, probably less enjoyable.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday June 09 2020, @01:06PM
You will see anti-PTSD pills to dampen specific memories (with therapy), and tDCS for learning [bigthink.com]. For sleep there is caffeine, modafinil, amphetamine/methamphetamine [wikipedia.org], etc. "Curing sleep" requires you to deal with effects like this [scientificamerican.com], or you're just walking dead and useless.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]