Memory reactivations during sleep

Neuronal activities that occur during awake periods are often reactivated again during sleep, to consolidate recently encoded memories, a process known as consolidation. In recent years, advanced tools, specially optical techniques and in-vivo live Ca2+ imaging, have revealed a deeper understanding to the offline periods' neuronal activities and their correspondence to later awake behavioral outputs. Recently, there is a growing consensus that sleep is more of an active process. Sleep has been associated with various functions, memory updating, future imaginations of possible familiar scenarios, decision making and planning by replaying past memories. Also, boosting insightful thoughts, creative thinking and problem solving by forming new associations and connections that were not present in awake states. Sleep activities have been directly associated with many EUREKA or AHA moments. Here, we describe recent views on memory reactivations during sleep and their implications on learning and memory.

Automated summary

Recent studies have shown that neuronal activities during sleep play a crucial role in memory consolidation. Sleep is now understood to be an active process that helps with memory updating, future imaginations, decision-making, and problem-solving.