{"id":354523,"date":"2021-10-18T20:00:01","date_gmt":"2021-10-18T17:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/reactivating-memories-during-sleep-improves-motor-skills\/"},"modified":"2021-10-18T20:00:01","modified_gmt":"2021-10-18T17:00:01","slug":"reactivating-memories-during-sleep-improves-motor-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/reactivating-memories-during-sleep-improves-motor-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"#Reactivating memories during sleep improves motor skills"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Reactivating memories during sleep improves motor skills<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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\"Reactivating
\n This photo shows the 4 EMG electrodes that were placed on each arm. Participants in the experiment learned to control a cursor by activating different arm muscles. Credit: Cheng et al., JNeurosci<\/i> 2021
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Practice makes perfect, but sleep helps, too. Learning and executing a new motor skill can be enhanced if you can get additional memory processing during sleep, according to new research published in JNeurosci<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Researchers at Northwestern University compared how well participants performed a challenging motor task with and without the extra processing during sleep. The participants played a computer game<\/a> using a myoelectric computer interface, which enabled them to move a cursor by activating specific arm muscles. Each command to move the cursor in a particular direction was paired with a unique sound; after practicing, the participants played the game blindfolded and moved the cursor based on the sound cue alone.<\/p>\n

After completing a test round, the participants took a 90-minute nap. The researchers played half of the sound cues during the nap, reactivating the motor memories associated with each cue. After the nap, the participants performed the motions cued during sleep better than the uncued ones: it took less time to move the cursor, the cursor travel<\/a>ed a more direct route, and fewer superfluous muscles were activated. <\/p>\n

These results show we can improve the performance of new motor skills by reactivating memories during sleep. <\/p>\n

This app<\/a>roach could be a way to enhance rehabilitation for stroke or other neurological disorders.\n <\/p>\n\n

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15 minutes of exercise creates optimal brain state for mastering new motor skills\n <\/p><\/div>\n

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\n More information:<\/strong>
\n Memory Reactivation During Sleep Improves Execution of a Challenging Motor Skill, JNeurosci<\/i> (2021). DOI: 10.1523\/JNEUROSCI.0265-21.2021<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n
\n Provided by
\n Society for Neuroscience<\/a>
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Citation<\/strong>:
\n Reactivating memories during sleep improves motor skills (2021, October 18)
\n retrieved 18 October 2021
\n from https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/news<\/a>\/2021-10-reactivating-memories-motor-skills.html<\/p>\n

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\n part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n