In people with PTSD, during REM sleep norepinephrine and serotonin levels remain high, reducing the brain's ability to inhibit fear-expression neurons through neural rhythms sent between the prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Those with PTSD require higher frequency rhythms to extinguish fear memories. Researchers say unlocking the higher frequencies via therapies could help to restore quality sleep in those with PTSD.
Researchers identified a mechanism within the brain that tags information with emotional association for enhanced memory. High-frequency brain waves in the amygdala and hippocampus are critical for enhancing emotional memories.
Researchers report both implicit and explicit emotional suppression reduces connectivity in brain regions associated with encoding emotional memories.
Studies presented at Neuroscience 2017 shed new light on how the brain consolidates memories and the neurological effects of poor sleep.
In a lab setting, researchers were able to convince test subjects they had committed crimes they did not commit, a new study reports.