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bioRxiv · 10.1101/130500

Neural Correlates of human cognitive abilities during sleep

Fang, Z.·Ray, L. B.·Owen, A. M.·Fogel, S.
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Abstract

Inter-individual differences in sleep spindles are highly correlated with \"Reasoning\" abilities (problem solving skills; i.e., the ability to employ logic, identify complex patterns), but not Short Term Memory or Verbal abilities. Simultaneous electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging (EEG-fMRI) have revealed brain activations time-locked to spindles (e.g., thalamic, paralimbic, and motor cortical areas)-yet the functional significance of inter-individual differences in spindle-related brain activation remains to be investigated. Using EEG-fMRI during sleep, we identified, for the first time, the neural activation patterns time-locked to spindles that are correlated with cognitive abilities. Similar to previous studies, activations time-locked to spindles were observed in thalamocortical circuitry and basal ganglia regions. Importantly, spindle-related activation in a subset of these regions were specifically related to inter-individual differences in Reasoning, but not STM or Verbal abilities. These results may help elucidate the physiological mechanisms which support the function of sleep for the capacity for reasoning.

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Fang, Z., Ray, L. B., Owen, A. M., Fogel, S.. 2017-04-25. Neural Correlates of human cognitive abilities during sleep. https://doi.org/10.1101/130500

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