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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2021.11.16.468870

Neural Mechanisms of Learning are Critically Dependent on Sleep

Guttesen, A. a. V.·Gaskell, M. G.·Madden, E. V.·Appleby, G.·Cross, Z. R.·Cairney, S. A.
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Abstract

Sleep supports memory consolidation as well as next-day learning. The influential Active Systems account of offline consolidation suggests that sleep-associated memory processing paves the way for new learning, but empirical evidence in support of this idea is scarce. Using a within-subjects (N = 30), crossover design, we assessed behavioural and electrophysiological indices of episodic encoding after a night of sleep or total sleep deprivation in healthy adults (aged 18-25 years), and investigated whether behavioural performance was predicted by the overnight consolidation of episodic associations formed the previous day. Sleep supported memory consolidation and next-day learning, as compared to sleep deprivation. However, the magnitude of this sleep-associated consolidation benefit did not significantly predict the ability to form novel memories after sleep. Interestingly, sleep deprivation prompted a qualitative change in the neural signature of encoding: whereas 12-20 Hz beta desynchronization - an established marker of successful encoding - was observed after sleep, sleep deprivation disrupted beta desynchrony during successful learning. Taken together, these findings suggest that effective learning depends on sleep, but not necessarily sleep-associated consolidation.

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Guttesen, A. a. V., Gaskell, M. G., Madden, E. V., Appleby, G., Cross, Z. R., Cairney, S. A.. 2021-11-18. Neural Mechanisms of Learning are Critically Dependent on Sleep. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.16.468870

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