Sleep apnea is characterized by the temporary cessation of the airway during sleep that can cause people to choke or gasp for air. One disorder, sleep apnea, may actually promote memory loss. Sleep disorders that lead to excessive daytime sleepiness such as narcolepsy can cause memory lapses. Insomnia, defined as persistent difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, is known to cause daytime cognitive impairments including reduced memory functioning. Since sleep is so crucial to the formation and consolidation of memories, some sleep disorders are associated with memory problems. Our recommendations for nightly sleep based on age are as follows: Every person should strive for the optimal amount of nightly sleep, as too little or too much can have negative repercussions. That said, excessive sleep can also lead to cognitive impairments. In addition to adults, studies have concluded children experience stronger memory consolidation after a good night’s sleep. How much sleep you should get each night largely depends on your age. Other potential cognitive impacts include trouble learning and focusing, reduced decision-making skills, and poor emotional and behavioral control. Since the brain does not have sufficient time to create new pathways for the information you’ve recently learned, sleep deprivation often affects how memories are consolidated. Difficulty remembering things is one common symptom. People who don’t get enough sleep may experience the effects of sleep deprivation.
How Does Sleep Deprivation Affect Brain Function and Memory? The thalamus is largely inactive during NREM stages, but when REM sleep begins, it will relay images, sounds, and other sensations to the cerebral cortex that are then integrated into your dreams. The thalamus of the brain transmits cues from your five senses to the cerebral cortex, a thin layer of the cerebrum that interprets and processes information from your memories. Emotional memories are also processed in the REM stage, which can help you cope with difficult experiences. These selected memories will become more concrete as deep NREM sleep begins, and this process will continue during REM sleep.
Not sleeping or getting enough sleep can lower your learning abilities by as much as 40%.ĭuring these NREM stages, the brain also sorts through your various memories from the previous day, filtering out important memories and eliminating other information. These three stages prepare your brain to learn new information the following day.
The first two stages are considered light NREM sleep, and the third is deep (or “slow-wave”) NREM sleep. Drooling In Your Sleep: What Causes It and How to StopĪ healthy adult’s sleep cycle consists of four distinct stages.
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