Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Drowsiness alters the neural dynamics but not the core computations of multisensory integration.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2026
Same author

Dissociating behavioral, neural and experiential effects of prefrontal HD-tDCS during conflict resolution.

Physiology & behavior·2026
Same author

Sleep-like slow waves during resting-state: A promising EEG biomarker of amyloid and neurodegeneration in preclinical Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2026
Same author

Dopamine dynamics in human anterior cingulate cortex during Pavlovian-instrumental conflict.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Dream-like mental states can occur during wakefulness.

Cell reports·2026
Same author

Sleep-Like Slow Waves during Wakefulness Mediate Attention and Vigilance Difficulties in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 23, 2026

High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation During Sleep
09:23

High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation During Sleep

Published on: December 5, 2025

491

Inducing task-relevant responses to speech in the sleeping brain.

Sid Kouider1, Thomas Andrillon2, Leonardo S Barbosa2

  • 1Laboratoire de Sciences Cognitives et Psycholinguistique, CNRS/EHESS/DEC-ENS, 29 Rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France.

Current Biology : CB
|September 16, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Even when asleep, the brain processes spoken words and prepares actions. This research shows sleepers can extract task-relevant information and covertly prepare motor responses without awareness.

More Related Videos

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition
12:49

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition

Published on: July 13, 2019

16.9K
Modulating Cognition Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Cerebellum
11:47

Modulating Cognition Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Cerebellum

Published on: February 15, 2015

30.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 23, 2026

High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation During Sleep
09:23

High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation During Sleep

Published on: December 5, 2025

491
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition
12:49

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition

Published on: July 13, 2019

16.9K
Modulating Cognition Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Cerebellum
11:47

Modulating Cognition Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Cerebellum

Published on: February 15, 2015

30.6K

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Sleep Research
  • Electrophysiology

Background:

  • Sleep traditionally viewed as reduced sensory processing and environmental interaction.
  • Emerging evidence suggests the sleeping brain processes external stimuli to some extent.
  • Limited understanding exists on flexible, task-dependent processing and action preparation during sleep.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if the sleeping brain can process spoken stimuli in a task-dependent manner.
  • To determine if sleepers can prepare for relevant motor actions based on auditory input.
  • To explore the limits of sensory processing and response preparation during sleep.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized semantic categorization and lexical decision tasks with spoken stimuli.
  • Recorded electrophysiological data, focusing on the lateralized readiness potential (LRP).
  • Monitored participants transitioning from wakefulness to sleep.

Main Results:

  • The lateralized readiness potential (LRP) indicated preserved task-specific response preparation during sleep.
  • Sleepers demonstrated the ability to extract task-relevant information from spoken words.
  • Covert preparation of appropriate motor responses occurred despite lack of awareness.

Conclusions:

  • Task-specific motor preparation is maintained in the sleeping brain.
  • The sleeping brain can process external stimuli flexibly and prepare actions covertly.
  • These findings challenge traditional views of sensory processing cessation during sleep.