Articles tagged with Slow Wave Sleep
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Research reveals cannabis use may promote deep, restorative sleep critical for physical restoration and immune function, but at the cost of reduced emotional regulation and memory integration. Chronic cannabis users experience diminishing benefits as use increases.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed an app that uses Apple Watch data to monitor sleep stages and predict Alzheimer's disease risk. The app, BIDSleep, collects heart rate data and feeds it into an AI model that accurately identifies sleep stages 71% of the time.
A new study using next-generation imaging technology discovered that when the brain is falling asleep, it shows a coordinated shift in activity. Areas involved in thinking, memory, and daydreaming quiet down and use less energy during NREM sleep.
Researchers have discovered that deep sleep plays a crucial role in controlling cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, which is essential for clearing waste from the brain. During slow-wave sleep, changes in cerebrospinal fluid signals are time-locked to slow brain waves and other neural events.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that surgically disconnected neural tissue in epilepsy patients exhibits slow-wave patterns similar to those observed during deep sleep or anesthesia, suggesting absent or reduced awareness. The persistence of these patterns raises questions about the functional role of slow waves in the brain.
A new study by Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche researchers reveals that brain slow waves are guided by neuronal excitability, not anatomy. The discovery uses advanced computational models to analyze local and global brain activity, shedding light on states like deep sleep and anesthesia.
A new study by Concordia researchers finds that chronic benzodiazepine consumption impacts sleep quality in older adults, leading to poorer sleep architecture and brain oscillation activities. The study suggests that these drugs may worsen cognitive functions already affected by aging.
Researchers have deciphered the fly brain's process of filtering out visual information during sleep, creating a 'window' that allows strong stimuli to wake them up. This study may hold parallels for human brain function and could reveal a universal principle of sleep.
Researchers analyzed over 1,000 awakenings using high-density EEG recordings, finding that the brain doesn't wake up all at once but instead orchestrates a precise sequence of activation. In non-REM sleep, slower waves trigger a brief surge before faster activity related to wakefulness, while in REM sleep, these waves are skipped leadi...
A new wearable device tracks the brain's glymphatic system, a waste-removal and nutrient-delivery system. The study found that this system is active in both deep and REM sleep, as well as when waking up, and accelerates with longer sleep duration.
Researchers discovered that norepinephrine triggers blood vessel constriction to propel cerebrospinal fluid through the brain, clearing out waste. The findings suggest that sleep aids may disrupt this process, potentially affecting long-term cognitive health.
A study published in Cell describes the synchronized oscillations that occur during non-REM sleep, including norepinephrine, cerebral blood volume, and CSF flow. The research highlights the critical role of these oscillations in powering the glymphatic system, which removes protein waste associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
A study published in PNAS found that short-term timing patterns of past brain activity are the primary determinant of sleep spindle timing, accounting for over 70% of its variability. These individualized patterns change with age and provide a new target for understanding how sleep supports memory.
A new study by Northwestern University researchers found that breathing rhythms coordinate hippocampal brain waves during sleep, strengthening memory consolidation. This synchronization is critical for proper memory formation and retrieval, with implications for treating disordered breathing during sleep, such as sleep apnea.
The study found that slow electrical waves during deep sleep strengthen synaptic connections and make the neocortex more receptive to information. This enhances memory formation by creating a state of elevated readiness in the cortex.
A new study suggests that exercise can improve cognitive performance for up to 24 hours after a single day of moderate to vigorous physical activity. The study found that participants who spent more time being active and had better sleep quality performed better in memory tests the next day.
Researchers found that small regions of the brain can momentarily 'flicker' awake while the rest of the brain remains asleep, and vice versa from wake to sleep. This challenges traditional understanding of sleep and wake patterns, which have been defined by slow, long-lasting waves.
Researchers from Mount Sinai presented three studies on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) at SLEEP 2024, exploring its effects on thalamic activity, overnight memory performance, and symptom improvement with CPAP treatment. The findings suggest that OSA can impair cognitive function and that hypoxic burden may predict clinical improvement.
A new study published in Nature found that sleep weakens new brain connections forged during wakefulness only during the first half of a night's sleep. The researchers suggest that this 'reset' prepares the brain for learning and new connections the next day.
UCI researchers have found that axons in the hippocampus play a role in generating slow waves and sleep spindles, crucial for deep sleep. The study suggests that these oscillations occur independently of neuronal spiking activity, offering new insights into memory processing during sleep.
Researchers at University College London have discovered that slow waves typically present during sleep can also occur during wakefulness in people with epilepsy, potentially protecting against increased brain excitability. These 'wake' slow waves decrease the impact of epileptic spikes on brain activity and may protect against seizures.
A study published in JAMA Neurology found that a 1% reduction in deep sleep per year for people over 60 increases dementia risk by 27%. The research suggests that maintaining or enhancing deep sleep could stave off dementia.
A study of 1,732 adults found that 69% used the snooze function or set multiple alarms. Snoozing resulted in lost sleep but prevented awakening from slow-wave sleep. In a second study, 30 minutes of snoozing improved cognitive performance.
Researchers at ETH Zurich found that targeting deep sleep with brief tones increases heart contractions, improving cardiovascular function. This leads to increased blood flow and a more efficient pumping mechanism.
Researchers at UC Berkeley discovered that deep-sleep brain waves can regulate the body's sensitivity to insulin, improving blood sugar control. The study found that synchronized brain waves during deep sleep predict next-day glucose control, even after controlling for other factors.
Researchers from Mount Sinai Health System presented new findings on the impact of customized lighting on inpatient sleep, a machine-learned combination of ventilatory, hypoxic, and arousal burdens, and the effects of obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia on cognitive impairment. The studies aim to improve sleep timing and duration, dia...
Dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS) display altered brain wave activity during sleep, including reduced slow-wave sleep and increased fast beta waves. This research builds on human studies linking disrupted sleep patterns to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients.
A new study from the University of Tsukuba identifies a critical signaling pathway within brain cells that regulates both the length and depth of sleep. By manipulating enzymes and proteins, researchers found that altering this pathway can significantly impact sleep duration and quality.
Researchers used a neural network model to study how brain regions interact during sleep. They found that the hippocampus and neocortex work together to convert fleeting information into long-term memory. The findings suggest that alternating between REM and slow-wave sleep stages is crucial for strong memory formation.
A new study by University of York researchers found that playing sound cues during sleep can be used to help people forget specific memories. The technique, which was previously used to boost memories, has been shown to induce selective forgetting in overlapping memories.
A new UCLA study reveals a link between REM sleep duration and body temperature in animals, suggesting that REM sleep acts like a 'thermostatically controlled brain heater'. This challenges popular views on the role of REM sleep in learning and emotional regulation.
A mobile system developed by ETH Zurich researchers aims to promote deep sleep through auditory brain stimulation, showing promise in enhancing slow waves during deep sleep in older adults. The system involves a headband that continuously measures brain activity and triggers short auditory signals to synchronize neuronal cells.
A new study published in JNeurosci found that the brain selectively responds to unfamiliar voices during sleep, even when familiar voices are present. This ability allows the brain to strike a balance between resting and being responsive to its environment.
In a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, researchers found that restoring normal sleep reduced amyloid-beta plaque accumulation. The thalamic reticular nucleus played a previously unsuspected role in symptoms associated with Alzheimer's, and its restoration could be a potential therapeutic approach.
A new study on rare 'split brain' patients demonstrates that NREM-sleep slow waves propagate in the human brain through cortical anatomical connections, contradicting common beliefs about sleep as a uniform state. The research found that each area of the brain may produce its own
Researchers found that slow-wave sleep triggers waves of cerebrospinal fluid that flush out toxic metabolic waste products from the brain. This process supports memory processing and consolidation, and may be crucial for preventing neurodegeneration and diseases like Alzheimer's.
Researchers found that high levels of oxygen encourage deep, restorative sleep by switching brains into a deactivated state. This stage is crucial for recovery, brain clearance, and memory consolidation, making it a key target for potential oxygen therapy in humans.
Researchers used magnetoencephalography to show that brain's ability to group sounds into sequences disappears during slow wave sleep. However, elementary associations like stimulus-reflex response can be acquired during sleep, suggesting limitations in learning capabilities.
During slow wave sleep, brain strengthens neural connections for important information and weakens those for irrelevant data. This process helps to improve signal-to-noise ratio and ensures stronger, consolidated memories.
A study found that disrupting one night of sleep in healthy adults causes an increase in amyloid beta, a brain protein associated with Alzheimer's disease. A week of poor sleep also leads to an increase in tau protein, which has been linked to brain damage in Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases.
Researchers at UC Berkeley argue that restorative deep sleep is vital for warding off memory loss and a range of mental and physical disorders in older adults. The aging brain's decline in slow wave sleep and neurochemical regulation can lead to cognitive and physical impairments.
A new study found that preschoolers who napped after learning new verbs had a better understanding of the words when tested 24 hours later. The study suggests that parents may want to consider maintaining regular naptimes for preschoolers, who are at an age where naps have a tendency to dwindle.
Researchers found that adults who spent eight hours in bed daily showed greater improvements on all fronts, including faster response to treatment and higher remission rates. In contrast, those who spent six hours in bed experienced no significant differences in treatment response.
Scientists have discovered REM and slow-wave sleep in bearded dragons, a finding that suggests brain sleep dates back at least to the evolution of amniotes. The study's authors believe that this common origin is more plausible than convergent evolution, given the early branching out of reptiles.
A study by Brown University researchers found that one brain hemisphere remains more awake than the other during deep sleep on the first night in a new place. This 'first-night effect' is thought to be an evolutionary adaptation to protect against potential danger.
A new study suggests that fetal alcohol exposure leads to long-lasting slow-wave sleep fragmentation, which is associated with learning problems and impaired cognitive function. The researchers found that mice exposed to binge amounts of ethanol displayed severe sleep fragmentation, memory impairment, and hyperactivity.
Researchers found that boys who experience a greater decline in slow-wave sleep during adolescence are at higher risk for developing insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and impaired attention. In contrast, girls showed no significant associations between SWS loss and health outcomes.
A new study found that eating less fiber, more saturated fat, and more sugar is associated with lighter, less restorative sleep. Greater fiber intake predicted more time spent in deep slow wave sleep, while a higher percentage of energy from saturated fat predicted less slow wave sleep. On the other hand, greater sugar intake was linke...
Researchers found that sleep fragmentation is especially detrimental to positive mood, leading to a 31% decline in positive mood after the second night. Interrupted sleep also affected different domains of positive mood, including energy levels and feelings of sympathy and friendliness.
Research suggests that excessive daytime sleepiness and taking long naps during the day are associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A meta-analysis of 261,365 subjects found that excessive daytime sleepiness increased the risk by 56%, while longer naps of 60 minutes or more increased the risk by 46%.
A recent study published in SLEEP reveals that African genetic ancestry is associated with lower slow-wave sleep amounts in African-American adults. The research found a significant genetic basis for racial differences in slow-wave sleep, which may lead to the development of population-specific treatment approaches.
A study found that over 60% of children developed sleepwalking when both parents were sleepwalkers, highlighting a strong genetic influence on the disorder. The research also showed that parental history of sleepwalking is a significant risk factor for children to develop sleepwalking.
A new study published in Neurology found that people with sleep apnea or reduced deep sleep are more likely to have brain abnormalities associated with dementia. The study also discovered that those who spent less time in slow wave sleep had loss of brain cells, a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that highly suggestible women experienced a significant increase in slow-wave sleep after listening to hypnosis, resulting in improved sleep quality. The study suggests that hypnosis could be a promising alternative to sleep-inducing drugs with no adverse side effects.
Research by Antonio Zadra dispels myths about sleepwalking, revealing that sleepwalkers can recall their actions and that a genetic factor plays a significant role in the disorder. The study also found that sleepwalking is not just a problem of transitioning between deep sleep and wakefulness.
A study found that weekend sleep fails to reverse performance decline after a workweek of restricted sleep, but women may fare better. Women showed less subjective sleepiness and performance deterioration during sleep restriction, as well as greater improvements after recovery.
A new study in sleep-deprived rats reveals that even when awake and active, scattered groups of neurons can briefly fall asleep, leading to declines in task performance. This phenomenon is more analogous to local lapses seen in epilepsy and may help explain impaired cognitive function in sleep-deprived individuals.
A recent study published in the journal SLEEP found that healthy older adults can expect to have a reduced 'sleep need' and be less sleepy during the day compared to younger adults. Despite decreased total sleep time with age, older adults displayed less subjective and objective daytime sleep propensity.
A recent study found that suppressing slow-wave sleep in healthy young adults significantly decreases their ability to regulate blood-sugar levels. After only three nights of selective slow-wave sleep suppression, subjects became less sensitive to insulin, resulting in reduced tolerance to glucose and increased risk for type 2 diabetes.
Research suggests that African-Americans experience lower slow wave activity (SWA) during sleep than Caucasians, a finding that may relate to reported poor sleep quality and higher risk of insulin resistance. This difference in SWA could impact physical health, emotional well-being, mental abilities, productivity, and performance.