This article comes from the WeChat public account: Neural Reality (ID: neureality) , author: Renken, translator: OrangeSoda, images from: Unsplash, the original title:” when you sleep, memory and forgetting start-ups “
Brain will also be cut off?
The information collected by the brain far exceeds what it can retain. We are receiving new information all day, but only part of it can be kept overnight or longer. Sleep seems to be crucial for this balance between learning and forgetting. It uses different patterns of electrical signals in the brain to strengthen part of the memory and eliminate another part of the memory, but the mechanism that plays a role in this process has been unknown .
In a study reported in early October 2019, the researchers solved the mystery by separating the opposing effects of two brain waves: one of them enhanced memory , and Another type of weakened memory .
How does the brain process memory so that one part is retained and the other part is lost? There are contradictions between the interpretations of this problem by different theories. After the researchers simply distinguished these brain waves from each other, they began to form an explanation that could reconcile contradictions. The first author of this study, Kanunash Gangully, associate professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco, (Karunesh Ganguly) said that we have not yet Fully understand how sleep can play an important role in both remembering and forgetting.
The theories about memory consolidation are roughly divided into two camps, each supported by some evidence. A theory attributed long-term learning to patterns of brain activity that are reproduced during sleep. The combination of these neurons (ensembles) simulates the signals in the original learning process, such reproduction enhances the inter-neuronal Synaptic connections, so that the memory is deeply rooted. If there is no recurrence, and in theory other synaptic connections are not strengthened, then those memories should die.
James Steinberg
Another opposite theory is “synaptic reduction” (synaptic downscaling) . Many researchers believe that in this process, the brain is more actively clearing useless memories. Because the learning process involves enhancing the neural activity of the brain connection, energy consumption is required, and in sleep, the energy supply to the brain connection is less, so that those connections that have less long-term important effects are weakened. Removing these background noises from useless memories makes the brain’s signals clearer and keeps the brain efficient.
What is the role of different brain wave patterns related to sleep in memory retention? This new study focuses on this issue and builds bridges between these theories.
What happens to the brain during sleep
For decades, research on enhancing and losing memory has focused on two brain wave modes: slow shock (slow oscillations ) and “Sleep Spindle Wave” (s