Sleep is critical in forming memories

UF Health Podcasts

Whether we’re binging one more episode of our favorite TV show, scrolling through social media, or battling insomnia, there are plenty of distractions in today’s world to keep us from sleep.

But getting enough sleep is extremely important for a variety of reasons, and two new studies from the University of Michigan show that those who don’t get enough sleep can have extreme difficulty forming memories and retaining information.

What exactly is happening in our brains that allows sleep deprivation to inhibit the formation of memories and decrease cognitive function?

Researchers observed what are known as place neurons, which are part of the brain associated with a specific task, such as navigating the environment. The neurons are in the hippocampus, a part of the brain where memories form.

In this experiment, the lab rats’ neurons fired as they explored a maze. Next, the scientists noted many of the same neurons fired as the rats slept, suggesting that sleep is a crucial component for memory formation.

In the second study, the researchers monitored lab rats’ brain neuron activity, both during sleep and sleep deprivation.

Neural firing patterns were seen to be higher in sleep and lower when the rats remained awake. During sleep deprivation, the electric signals from the lab rats’ brains were produced at a similar or higher rate as when they slept, but at a lower power and amplitude.

So, whether you’re doom-scrolling or just tossing and turning, do what you can to get the sleep your brain needs. If you don’t, when someone asks a simple question, like “What did you do last night?” — you might just draw a blank.