Abstract
AbstractPresentation of learning-related cues during NREM sleep has been shown to improve memory consolidation. Past studies suggest that REM sleep may contribute to the beneficial effect of reactivating memories during NREM sleep, but the relationship between REM sleep and induced reactivations in NREM remains unclear. We investigated whether a naturally ensuing REM sleep episode is necessary for prior NREM targeted memory reactivation (TMR) to exert a beneficial effect on memory consolidation. Results disclosed better name recognition for words reactivated during NREM TMR followed by REM sleep, as compared to NREM-TMR without subsequent REM sleep. Sleep spindle activity increased only when NREM TMR preceded REM sleep, and associations with subsequent REM theta activity and memory benefits were contingent upon the level of relatedness with prior knowledge for the learned material. Our findings suggest a complex interplay between NREM and REM sleep subtending memory reactivation and consolidation processes.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory