Recent advances in memory consolidation and information processing during sleep

Increasingly studied in a systematic manner since the 1970s, the cognitive processes of the brain taking place during sleeping periods remain an important object of scrutiny in the scientific community. In particular, sleep has been demonstrated to play a significant role for learning and memory consolidation processes, and sleep scientists have started unravelling its underlying neurophysiological mechanisms. However, sleep remains a multidimensional phenomenon, and many questions remain left open for future research. In this selective review article, we address recent advances in particular domains in which sleep research has further progressed in the past decade. We highlight the developmental trajectory of sleep-dependent learning and memory consolidation processes, from their development in childhood to their potential impairments in ageing, and the nature and extent of our capabilities for information processing, learning, and memory reinforcement during sleep.