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Sleep

This shows a person awake late at night.

·June 16, 2023·5 min read

Night Owls’ Lifespan Less Linked to Sleep Patterns, More to Lifestyle Choices

Recent research refutes the idea that 'night owls' face a shorter lifespan due to their late-night tendencies, emphasizing lifestyle factors like smoking and drinking as the more significant contributors. The study involved almost 23,000 twins from Finland, tracked over a period of 37 years.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 10, 2023·4 min read

Unlocking Memory Secrets: The Surprising Power of Sleep & Dreams

Recent neuroscience studies underscore the profound impact of sleep and sleep disorders on memory. Sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation, selectively preserving relevant memories while discarding non-essential ones. However, sleep disorders, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome, can significantly hinder this process, leading to memory impairments. These insights highlight the need for effective treatment strategies to ensure cognitive health.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 2, 2023·5 min read

Unlocking Memory Enhancement: Sleep-Based Deep-Brain Stimulation Shows Promise

Researchers provide evidence of how the brain consolidates memory during sleep. The study revealed that targeted deep-brain stimulation during a specific sleep phase can enhance memory consolidation.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 30, 2023·2 min read

Hair Cortisol Levels in Infants May Predict Sleep Patterns

Cortisol levels in late pregnancy may predict an infant's sleep patterns. Higher cortisol levels in neonates were found to be associated with longer sleep latency at 7 months.

This shows a person sleeping surrounded by junk food.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 30, 2023·7 min read

Junk Food vs Sleep: New Study Reveals Impact of Diet on Sleep Quality

Researchers uncovered how an unhealthy diet affects deep sleep quality. The study revealed that consuming a diet high in sugars and saturated fats leads to deterioration in the quality of deep sleep.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 25, 2023·5 min read

Novel Treatment for Violent Dreaming in REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

A new potential treatment for rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder has been identified. The study established a new model detailing the disorder's progression due to neurodegeneration linked with tau protein accumulation.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 18, 2023·5 min read

Shifting Sleep Patterns: Night Owls Can Become Early Birds

Are you a night owl struggling with early morning commitments? Researchers suggest your sleep habits may be more changeable than you think. The study revealed that while genetics and behavior play a role in our sleep preferences or 'chronotypes', it is possible to shift these patterns over time, with potential benefits for sleep quality and academic success.

This shows a clock and a person sleeping.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 16, 2023·4 min read

Clock-Watching Worsens Insomnia

Monitoring time while trying to sleep can exacerbate insomnia and increase the use of sleep aids. The study involved nearly 5,000 patients from a sleep clinic, and found that the stress of estimating sleep durations significantly impeded the ability to fall asleep.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 15, 2023·9 min read

Dream to Create: Sleep Onset Boosts Creativity

Researchers discovered targeted dream incubation during the sleep onset phase may enhance creativity. The study found that participants given a specific topic to dream about during this phase performed more creatively in tasks related to that topic. This 'targeted dream incubation' led to the generation of more creative stories compared to those who napped without a specific prompt or stayed awake. The study suggests that the brain makes wider connections between disparate concepts during this dream state, enhancing creative performance.

This shows a person sleeping and brain activity.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 11, 2023·4 min read

Link Between Sleep Apnea, Deep Sleep Deficit, and Brain Health Risks

A new study reveals a potential link between sleep apnea, reduced time in deep sleep, and brain biomarkers associated with increased risk of conditions like stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive decline.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 4, 2023·8 min read

Sleeping Deeply to Remember Better: Deep Sleep Could Reduce Memory Loss in Alzheimer’s

Deep sleep, also known as non-REM slow-wave sleep, may help reduce memory loss in older adults facing a heightened burden of Alzheimer’s disease. The research indicates that superior amounts of deep sleep can act as a protective factor against memory decline in those with existing high amounts of Alzheimer’s disease pathology, potentially helping to alleviate some of dementia’s most devastating outcomes.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 3, 2023·6 min read

Sleep Spindles Play a Role in Soothing PTSD Anxiety and Enhancing Memory Retention

Brief bursts of brain activity during sleep known as sleep spindles could potentially help regulate anxiety in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Researchers believe that the study's findings may be useful for people with anxiety disorders and are looking at non-invasive ways to harness the benefits of this sleep stage to relieve symptoms. The study also suggests that sleep hygiene, electrical brain stimulation, or prescription sleep medications could promote the sleep spindles associated with non-rapid eye movement 2 (NREM2) sleep and potentially benefit patients with stress and anxiety disorders.