India, April 29 -- A new study, published in Nature Communications, revealed that sleep not only helps consolidate existing memories but also prepares the brain to learn new information.
Researchers at the University of Toyama, led by Distinguished Professor Kaoru Inokuchi, tracked brain activity in mice and discovered a new type of neuron dubbed "engram-to-be cells." These cells become increasingly synchronized during sleep after a learning experience, priming the brain to absorb future knowledge.
Using advanced calcium imaging techniques, the team monitored individual neurons before, during, and after learning. They found that while already known "engram cells" reactivated during sleep to strengthen previous memories, a separate group o...