Sleep triggers an important process in the brain — study

Researchers from Brown University have discovered that during sleep, the brain reprocesses information acquired during the day, consolidating new knowledge and skills. Scientists recorded sequences of neuronal activity similar to those that occurred during memory and attention tasks. The discovery could help in the development of neurotechnologies for people with paralysis.

Researchers from Brown University have discovered that during sleep, the brain reprocesses information acquired during the day, helping to consolidate new knowledge and skills. Scientists recorded sequences of neuronal activity similar to those that occurred during memory and attention tasks. Initially, the mechanism was observed in laboratory mice: when the animals successfully navigated a maze, certain cells activated in a characteristic sequence, and this same sequence repeated during sleep. The experiment was then conducted with humans: participants performed electronic tasks, and during sleep, the same neural patterns were recorded. The researchers emphasize that this is not about the ability to learn new information during sleep, but about consolidating already acquired experience. The discovery could be useful in medicine for developing neurotechnologies for people with paralysis and the consequences of neurological damage.