A recent scientific study has revealed the role of a specific group of nerve cells in consolidating new memories during sleep, by regulating electrical activity in the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for learning and memory.
The results showed that the activity of these cells increases during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, contributing to the generation of hippocampal ripples associated with memory reactivation and strengthening. It was also found that influencing the activity of these cells during this stage affects the brain's ability to retain previous information and events.
Role of cells in social memory
Experiments clarified that the role of these cells is not limited to consolidating learning-related memories, but extends to social memory. Altering their activity after social interactions weakened the ability of the animals used in the experiments to distinguish between familiar and new individuals.
Relationship with chemical transmitters
Researchers linked the activity of these cells to "acetylcholine," a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating brain activity, learning, and attention. Its levels decrease during NREM sleep, reducing its inhibitory effect on target cells and allowing them to become active and participate in generating hippocampal ripples.
Consolidation mechanisms and future research
The results indicated that activating these cells during this stage increases the occurrence of hippocampal ripples, while suppressing them leads to a decrease. This highlights their importance in memory consolidation mechanisms during sleep. Furthermore, analysis of previous human brain data revealed a similar group of cells expressing the CHRM2 gene, although their direct role in regulating sleep and memory in humans still requires further research and study.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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