Cornell University research has revealed that sleep plays a crucial role in resetting our brain for the next day.
The research noted that the hippocampus, a brain region essential for memory, resets during deep sleep and helps us in waking up with more learning the next day.
The study published in the journal Science mentioned that the resetting thing helps us learn new things without exhausting the brain.
Resetting The Brain
Azahara Oliva, assistant professor and the corresponding author of the study, said that the process involved a specific region of the hippocampus, called CA2.
She noted that the CA2 part, unlike the CA1 and CA3 which are extensively studied, behaves as a silencer during deep sleep, shutting down neurons and resetting the memory for tomorrow.
The scientists expressed optimism that they now understand and can enhance memory function to offer new treatments for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And dementia.
