Neural circuit plasticity for complex non-declarative sensorimotor memory consolidation during sleep

Evidence is accumulating that the brain actively consolidates long-term memory during sleep. Motor skill memory is a form of non-declarative procedural memory and can be coordinated with multi-sensory processing such as visual, tactile, and, auditory. Conversely, perception is affected by body movement signal from motor brain regions. Although both cortical and subcortical brain regions are involved in memory consolidation, cerebral cortex activity can be recorded and manipulated noninvasively or minimally invasively in humans and animals. NREM sleep, which is important for non-declarative memory consolidation, is characterized by slow and spindle waves representing thalamo-cortical population activity. In animals, electrophysiological recording, optical imaging, and manipulation approaches have revealed multi-scale cortical dynamics across learning and sleep. In the sleeping cortex, neural activity is affected by prior learning and neural circuits are continually reorganized. Here I outline how sensorimotor coordination is formed through awake learning and subsequent sleep.

Automated summary

There is growing evidence that the brain consolidates long-term memory during sleep. Motor skill memory, a form of non-declarative procedural memory, can be enhanced through multi-sensory processing and is influenced by body movement signals from the motor brain regions. Both cortical and subcortical brain regions play a role in memory consolidation, with cortical activity being recordable and manipulable in humans and animals. During non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, slow and spindle waves reflecting thalamo-cortical activity contribute to the consolidation of non-declarative memory. Animal studies have revealed dynamic cortical changes during learning and sleep, indicating the continuous reorganization of neural circuits. This article outlines the formation of sensorimotor coordination through awake learning and subsequent sleep.