Memory research: Breathing in sleep impacts memory processes

Researchers at LMU, the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, and the University of Oxford have investigated how sleep affects memory. They found a link between breathing and the emergence of certain brain activity patterns in sleep that are associated with the reactivation of memory contents. The data points to possible consequences of unhealthy breathing on memory.

How are memories consolidated during sleep? In 2021, researchers led by Dr. Thomas Schreiner, leader of the Emmy Noether junior research group at LMU’s Department of Psychology, had already shown there was a direct relationship between the emergence of certain sleep-related brain activity patterns and the reactivation of memory contents during sleep. However, it was still unclear whether these rhythms are orchestrated by a central pacemaker. So the researchers joined up with scientists from the Max Planck Institute…

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