Cargando…

Improving memory via automated targeted memory reactivation during sleep

A widely accepted view in memory research is that previously acquired information can be reactivated during sleep, leading to persistent memory storage. Targeted memory reactivation (TMR) was developed as a technique whereby specific memories can be reactivated during sleep using a sensory stimulus...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Whitmore, Nathan W., Harris, Jasmine C., Kovach, Torin, Paller, Ken A.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9649863/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36129154
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13731
_version_ 1784827884561498112
author Whitmore, Nathan W.
Harris, Jasmine C.
Kovach, Torin
Paller, Ken A.
author_facet Whitmore, Nathan W.
Harris, Jasmine C.
Kovach, Torin
Paller, Ken A.
author_sort Whitmore, Nathan W.
collection PubMed
description A widely accepted view in memory research is that previously acquired information can be reactivated during sleep, leading to persistent memory storage. Targeted memory reactivation (TMR) was developed as a technique whereby specific memories can be reactivated during sleep using a sensory stimulus linked to prior learning. As a research tool, TMR can improve memory, raising the possibility that it may be useful for cognitive enhancement and clinical therapy. A major challenge for the expanded use of TMR is that a skilled operator must manually control stimulation, which is impractical in many settings. To address this limitation, we developed the SleepStim system for automated TMR in the home. SleepStim includes a smartwatch to collect movement and heart‐rate data, plus a smartphone to emit auditory cues. A machine‐learning model identifies periods of deep sleep and triggers TMR sounds within these periods. We tested whether this system could replicate the spatial‐memory benefit of in‐laboratory TMR. Participants learned locations of objects on a grid, and then half of the object locations were reactivated during sleep over 3 nights. Recall was tested each morning. In an experiment with 61 participants, the TMR effect was not significant but varied systematically with stimulus intensity; low‐intensity but not high‐intensity stimuli produced memory benefits. In a second experiment with 24 participants, we limited stimulus intensity and found that TMR reliably improved spatial memory, consistent with effects observed in laboratory studies. We conclude that SleepStim can effectively accomplish automated TMR, and that avoiding sleep disruption is critical for TMR benefits.
format Online
Article
Text
id pubmed-9649863
institution National Center for Biotechnology Information
language English
publishDate 2022
publisher John Wiley and Sons Inc.
record_format MEDLINE/PubMed
spelling pubmed-96498632022-12-28 Improving memory via automated targeted memory reactivation during sleep Whitmore, Nathan W. Harris, Jasmine C. Kovach, Torin Paller, Ken A. J Sleep Res Focus on Real Time Stimulation during Sleep A widely accepted view in memory research is that previously acquired information can be reactivated during sleep, leading to persistent memory storage. Targeted memory reactivation (TMR) was developed as a technique whereby specific memories can be reactivated during sleep using a sensory stimulus linked to prior learning. As a research tool, TMR can improve memory, raising the possibility that it may be useful for cognitive enhancement and clinical therapy. A major challenge for the expanded use of TMR is that a skilled operator must manually control stimulation, which is impractical in many settings. To address this limitation, we developed the SleepStim system for automated TMR in the home. SleepStim includes a smartwatch to collect movement and heart‐rate data, plus a smartphone to emit auditory cues. A machine‐learning model identifies periods of deep sleep and triggers TMR sounds within these periods. We tested whether this system could replicate the spatial‐memory benefit of in‐laboratory TMR. Participants learned locations of objects on a grid, and then half of the object locations were reactivated during sleep over 3 nights. Recall was tested each morning. In an experiment with 61 participants, the TMR effect was not significant but varied systematically with stimulus intensity; low‐intensity but not high‐intensity stimuli produced memory benefits. In a second experiment with 24 participants, we limited stimulus intensity and found that TMR reliably improved spatial memory, consistent with effects observed in laboratory studies. We conclude that SleepStim can effectively accomplish automated TMR, and that avoiding sleep disruption is critical for TMR benefits. John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2022-09-21 2022-12 /pmc/articles/PMC9649863/ /pubmed/36129154 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13731 Text en © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Sleep Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Sleep Research Society. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/This is an open access article under the terms of the http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
spellingShingle Focus on Real Time Stimulation during Sleep
Whitmore, Nathan W.
Harris, Jasmine C.
Kovach, Torin
Paller, Ken A.
Improving memory via automated targeted memory reactivation during sleep
title Improving memory via automated targeted memory reactivation during sleep
title_full Improving memory via automated targeted memory reactivation during sleep
title_fullStr Improving memory via automated targeted memory reactivation during sleep
title_full_unstemmed Improving memory via automated targeted memory reactivation during sleep
title_short Improving memory via automated targeted memory reactivation during sleep
title_sort improving memory via automated targeted memory reactivation during sleep
topic Focus on Real Time Stimulation during Sleep
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9649863/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36129154
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13731
work_keys_str_mv AT whitmorenathanw improvingmemoryviaautomatedtargetedmemoryreactivationduringsleep
AT harrisjasminec improvingmemoryviaautomatedtargetedmemoryreactivationduringsleep
AT kovachtorin improvingmemoryviaautomatedtargetedmemoryreactivationduringsleep
AT pallerkena improvingmemoryviaautomatedtargetedmemoryreactivationduringsleep