Dr. Adams
02-28-2009, 11:47 AM
"...the sleeping brain is fundamentally different from the brain during wakefulness and that the synaptic changes needed to form the basis of memory function do not happen until sleep occurs.
This is the first real direct insight into how the brain, on a cellular level, changes the strength of its connections during sleep. When the animal goes to sleep, it's like you’ve thrown a switch, and all of a sudden, everything is turned on that's necessary for making synaptic changes that form the basis of memory formation.
Previously, the researchers showed that as little as 6 hours of sleep are needed for this synaptic remodeling.
Why do you sleep at all? Why do you need this very complicated brain state that requires you to be unconscious to achieve its function?
Next, the researchers plan to investigate whether particular genes are being turned on in sleep-dependent cortical plasticity and if these changes also occur later in life."
Neuron. 2009; 61:454-466. Abstract
This is the first real direct insight into how the brain, on a cellular level, changes the strength of its connections during sleep. When the animal goes to sleep, it's like you’ve thrown a switch, and all of a sudden, everything is turned on that's necessary for making synaptic changes that form the basis of memory formation.
Previously, the researchers showed that as little as 6 hours of sleep are needed for this synaptic remodeling.
Why do you sleep at all? Why do you need this very complicated brain state that requires you to be unconscious to achieve its function?
Next, the researchers plan to investigate whether particular genes are being turned on in sleep-dependent cortical plasticity and if these changes also occur later in life."
Neuron. 2009; 61:454-466. Abstract