FeaturedNeuroscience·March 31, 2025·8 min readHow Sleep, Emotion, and Novelty Shape MemoryNew research highlights how smartphones are transforming memory science by capturing real-world data on sleep, emotion, and daily experiences. Studies show that replaying memories before sleep, experiencing novel events, and feeling positive emotions can all strengthen autobiographical memory.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·March 31, 2025·5 min readLess Deep Sleep Linked to Brain Shrinkage, Alzheimer’s RiskNew research shows that reduced time in slow wave and REM sleep is associated with smaller brain volumes in regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease. Using sleep studies and brain imaging data from 270 participants, researchers found that poor sleep architecture was linked to brain atrophy over time—particularly in the inferior parietal region, an area affected early in Alzheimer’s.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·March 25, 2025·6 min readHow Sleep Rewrites the Brain to Strengthen and Optimize MemoriesA new study reveals how the brain reprocesses and refines memories during sleep, particularly those related to spatial learning. Researchers tracked rats’ hippocampal neuron activity for up to 20 hours and found that memory patterns first echoed the learning phase and then gradually shifted to match the recollection phase upon waking.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·March 21, 2025·4 min readSleep-Deprived Fruit Flies Show Sharper Memory via PKA SignalingFruit flies with genetic mutations that severely reduce sleep show enhanced performance in olfactory memory tasks, challenging assumptions about sleep’s role in cognition. This paradox appears to be driven by increased protein kinase A (PKA) signaling in the mushroom body, a brain region responsible for memory and sleep regulation.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·March 20, 2025·3 min readChanges in Sleep Patterns Could Predict Dementia RiskA new study finds that women in their 80s who develop increasing daytime sleepiness over five years are twice as likely to develop dementia. Researchers tracked 733 women without cognitive impairment, using wrist devices to monitor sleep and circadian rhythms.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·March 19, 2025·3 min readHigher Depression Risks for Night OwlsA new study finds that staying up late, known as having an “evening chronotype,” is associated with a higher risk of depression. Researchers analyzed data from 546 university students and found that this link is influenced by sleep quality, alcohol consumption, and mindfulness levels.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·March 11, 2025·4 min readPoor Sleep Linked to Brain’s Waste-Removal BreakdownA new study reveals that poor sleep in older adults disrupts the brain’s glymphatic system, responsible for clearing harmful waste and toxins. Researchers found that compromised sleep quality leads to dysfunction in this crucial system, potentially increasing risks for memory decline and cognitive impairments.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·March 5, 2025·5 min readSleeping With Eyes Open: How Pupil Size Reveals Brain ActivityA new study reveals that pupil size fluctuates constantly during sleep, reflecting changes in brain activation levels. Researchers developed a novel method to keep test subjects' eyes open, allowing them to monitor these dynamics without disrupting sleep.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·March 3, 2025·6 min readSleep Brain Waves Linked to Consciousness in ComaA new study finds that sleep spindles—bursts of brain activity during sleep—may predict recovery in unresponsive patients with recent brain injuries. Researchers analyzed EEG recordings of 226 comatose patients and found that those with sleep spindles were significantly more likely to regain consciousness and functional independence.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·February 24, 2025·5 min readPoor Sleep Alters Immune Cells, Increasing Risk for Inflammatory DiseasesA new study reveals that even a single night of sleep deprivation can alter immune cell profiles to resemble those seen in obesity, a condition linked to chronic inflammation. Researchers found that sleep-deprived individuals had increased levels of non-classical monocytes, immune cells associated with inflammatory responses, similar to patterns observed in obese participants.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·February 19, 2025·5 min readWhy Some People Remember Dreams and Others Don’tA new study explores why some people vividly recall dreams while others forget them. Researchers found that dream recall is influenced by personality traits, sleep patterns, and even seasonal changes. People who frequently daydream and have a positive attitude toward dreams were more likely to remember them.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·February 6, 2025·5 min readSleep Strengthens Emotionally Charged Memories During Non-REM PhaseResearchers have discovered that positive emotions enhance perceptual memories during sleep, particularly in the non-REM stage. Using mice, they found that memories linked to rewarding experiences lasted longer than neutral ones.Read More
