Our brain works in mysterious ways. According to a new study, our little gray cells are active even when we sleep and prepare us for hosting a new set of memories. A study published in the Science Journal found a particular ‘switch’ in our brain reactivates our memory during sleep. This "switch" aids in clearing the decks so that the memory pathways can regenerate and get ready for a fresh learning day. The ability to store new knowledge is a top priority for our brains.
What’s The ‘BARR’ Phenomenon?
The research team has named this phenomenon a “barrage of action potentials” or “BARR.” To put it simply, this suggests that there is a brief period of neuronal quiet in the hippocampus, a particular region of our brain, which allows the neurons involved in memory to recover and prepare for the next learning cycle.
It essentially guarantees that our brains can continue storing information without triggering a terrifying overload to the neural networks in charge of memory. It's similar to a nightly system reboot.
How Does Sleep Influence Memory?
Numerous studies have always maintained that adequate sleep is necessary for our mental and physical well-being. Aside from providing rejuvenation, sleep is also integral to protecting our immunity. However, sleep is also essential for cognitive function.
The hippocampus's neurons fire furiously as they begin to encode information upon encountering something novel.
These specialized neurons replicate the patterns of activity they see during the day when we sleep. Memory solidification is facilitated by the process of memory replay, which fortifies the brain connections involved in these memories.
A team of researchers, led by Azahara Oliva, an assistant professor of neurobiology and behavior at Cornell University, observed a group of mice and found that the rodents, whose brains resemble ours, have a “reset button." It enables the brain to replay memories through “sharp wave ripples.” At the same time, certain neurons in the CA2 region switch off. The neurons that were intensively utilized during learning might reset during this silent interval, readying them for fresh learning the next day.
“This means that memory is a two-fold process, with neural circuits that enhance the consolidation of a given experience and neural circuits that control that this consolidation doesn’t go over a healthy limit,” told Oliva to the media.
What’s The ‘BARR’ Phenomenon?
The research team has named this phenomenon a “barrage of action potentials” or “BARR.” To put it simply, this suggests that there is a brief period of neuronal quiet in the hippocampus, a particular region of our brain, which allows the neurons involved in memory to recover and prepare for the next learning cycle.
It essentially guarantees that our brains can continue storing information without triggering a terrifying overload to the neural networks in charge of memory. It's similar to a nightly system reboot.
How Does Sleep Influence Memory?
Numerous studies have always maintained that adequate sleep is necessary for our mental and physical well-being. Aside from providing rejuvenation, sleep is also integral to protecting our immunity. However, sleep is also essential for cognitive function.
The hippocampus's neurons fire furiously as they begin to encode information upon encountering something novel.
These specialized neurons replicate the patterns of activity they see during the day when we sleep. Memory solidification is facilitated by the process of memory replay, which fortifies the brain connections involved in these memories.
A team of researchers, led by Azahara Oliva, an assistant professor of neurobiology and behavior at Cornell University, observed a group of mice and found that the rodents, whose brains resemble ours, have a “reset button." It enables the brain to replay memories through “sharp wave ripples.” At the same time, certain neurons in the CA2 region switch off. The neurons that were intensively utilized during learning might reset during this silent interval, readying them for fresh learning the next day.
“This means that memory is a two-fold process, with neural circuits that enhance the consolidation of a given experience and neural circuits that control that this consolidation doesn’t go over a healthy limit,” told Oliva to the media.
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