Motor learning and ultradian sleep cycle: an electroencephalographic study of trampoliners

Evidence from both animal experiments and human studies suggests that sleep might be involved in neuronal and biochemical mechanisms of learning. In the present study distinct changes in the temporal organization of sleep stages were observed in 8 volunteers participating in a training course in trampolining. Since trampolining requires the acquisition of unaccustomed motor skills, it can be regarded as a special case of motor learning. Subjects who were able to acquire new motor skills during distinct training units in trampolining showed an increase in sleep-cycle period and mean duration of REM and slow-wave sleep. These results are discussed with respect to biochemical mechanisms which may be involved in both learning and organization of sleep stages.