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Stimulation with electric current improves our memory
Sleep is very important to the human brain. As we sleep, the brain uses the information we learned earlier in the day. But in millions of people with neurological disorders, the processes of processing information do not work properly. Researchers have now discovered an unusual way to improve the memory of people with conditions such as autism, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and depression. Weak electrical currents in the brain can improve our memory.
Researchers from the University of North Carolina found in a study that a non-invasive method can increase people's memory. For this the physicians used weak electronic currents. These were targeted to specific areas of the human brain. The researchers published the results of their study in the journal "Current Biology".
Do you often have memory problems? Then the results of a new study from the United States could help you. Researchers found that weak electrical current in our brain can improve our memories. (Image: Antonio Gravante / fotolia.com) What role do sleep spindles play in storing information??
For years scientists have been trying to understand how the electrical activity of the brain affects our memory during our sleep. It has long been suspected that so-called sleep spindles play a major role in these processes, says the author. Flavio Frohlich from the University of North Carolina.
Sleep spindles are crucial for creating memories
Our study now showed that the spindles are crucial to the process of creating memories we need for daily life Cheerfully. And there are ways to improve our memories. The new study was the first to focus solely on sleep spine research without increasing other natural brain electrical activities, Dr. Gladly on.
Subjects must perform two memory exercises before sleeping
During the examination, the male participants had to do two joint memory exercises, then they went to sleep. The first task was associative mating of words, say the scientists. The second task was a motor sequence task that required subjects to type in specific areas. One half of the subjects received real stimulation by AC, the other group received only a placebo, the experts add.
Stimulation improves the performance of motor tasks
The next day the participants had to do the memory exercises again. However, there was no real improvement in the word mating tests. But when it came to performing the motor tasks, a clear improvement was observed, the scientists explain. This is evidence of a direct causal relationship between the electrical activity pattern of sleep spindles and the process of memory consolidation, says author Fröhlich.
Sleep spindles new target for the treatment of memory disorders
Previous studies have already shown that so-called optogenetics can restore our memories. But the new results are very pleasing, because the connection between sleep spindles and the formation of our memory could affect a number of diseases, explains the lead author. Caroline Lustenberger from the University of North Carolina. For example, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's are affected by this relationship. We now hope that sleep spindles could be a new target for the treatment of memory problems, adds the physician. This new type of treatment could then help many people with cognitive deficits. (As)