The relationship between cognitive ability and BOLD activation across sleep-wake states
Zhuo Fang1, Dylan M Smith1,2, Evan Houldin2
1University of Ottawa Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
Brain Imaging and Behavior
|August 25, 2021
Summary
Brain activity during sleep and wakefulness is linked to fluid and short-term memory abilities. This research extends beyond sleep spindles, revealing broader connections between brain states and cognitive functions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Sleep spindles (sigma frequency oscillations) correlate with fluid intelligence.
- Previous research focused on non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and spindles, overlooking other sleep-wake states.
- The neural correlates of sleep spindle-fluid intelligence relationship include thalamus, putamen, medial frontal gyrus, middle cingulate cortex, and precuneus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between brain activity across sleep/wake states and human intelligence.
- To explore if cognitive abilities are associated with brain activity beyond NREM sleep spindles.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were used.
- Brain activity during NREM sleep, REM sleep, and wakefulness was recorded in 29 participants.
- Correlations between brain activity (BOLD) and measures of fluid intelligence, short-term memory (STM), and verbal intelligence were analyzed.
Main Results:
- During NREM sleep, fluid intelligence correlated with bilateral putamen and paracentral lobule/precuneus activation.
- STM abilities correlated with medial frontal cortex and inferior frontal gyrus activity during NREM sleep.
- Wakefulness showed correlations between STM and bilateral postcentral gyri/occipital lobe activity.
- REM sleep was associated with midbrain activation for fluid intelligence and right postcentral gyrus for verbal intelligence.
Conclusions:
- The relationship between sleep and intellectual abilities extends beyond sleep spindles.
- Brain activity during various sleep-wake states is associated with different aspects of cognitive function.
- Findings suggest a broader role of brain activity across the sleep-wake cycle in supporting human intelligence.
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