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

Stages of Sleep01:22

Stages of Sleep

186
Sleep progresses through distinct stages, each characterized by specific brain wave patterns and physiological responses ranging from wakefulness to stages of non-rapid eye movement, known as non-REM, to rapid eye movement, referred to as REM. Understanding these stages helps in recognizing how sleep supports various bodily and cognitive functions.
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
186
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

1.3K
Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
1.3K
Understanding Sleep01:11

Understanding Sleep

228
Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
228
Long-term Potentiation01:35

Long-term Potentiation

55.2K
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
55.2K
Long-Term Memory01:18

Long-Term Memory

152
Long-term memory is a relatively permanent type of memory, capable of storing vast amounts of information over extended periods. Its storage capacity is generally considered unlimited.
Long-term memory can be categorized into two primary types: explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory, also known as declarative memory, involves the conscious recollection of information that we deliberately try to remember, recall, and articulate. This type of memory encompasses specific facts, events, and...
152
Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking01:17

Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking

154
Somnambulism, commonly known as sleepwalking, involves individuals engaging in activities ranging from simple walking to more complex behaviors such as driving. Sleepwalking typically occurs during the slow-wave sleep stages 3 and 4 early in the night when the person is not dreaming, contradicting the myth that sleepwalkers are acting out their dreams.
Factors that increase the likelihood of sleepwalking include sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption. Contrary to common beliefs, it is safe...
154

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Test-retest reliability analysis of resting-state EEG measures and their association with long-term memory in children and adults.

Imaging neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)·2026
Same author

Anticipatory eye gaze as a marker of memory.

Communications psychology·2025
Same author

Unconscious processing effects manifest only if conscious processing is excluded.

Cognitive neuroscience·2024
Same author

A visual paired associate learning (vPAL) paradigm to study memory consolidation during sleep.

Journal of sleep research·2024
Same author

Feasibility, efficacy, and functional relevance of automated auditory closed-loop suppression of slow-wave sleep in humans.

Journal of sleep research·2023
Same author

Imaging human engrams using 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging.

Hippocampus·2021
Same journal

Non-canonical amino acid incorporation enables minimally disruptive labeling of stress granule and TDP-43 proteinopathy.

eLife·2026
Same journal

Analysis of dendritic input currents during place field dynamics.

eLife·2026
Same journal

TopoMetry systematically learns and evaluates the latent geometry of single-cell data.

eLife·2026
Same journal

Navigating the path: Advice to physician-scientists on choosing a clinical specialty.

eLife·2026
Same journal

Neural activity profiles reveal overlapping, intermingled subpopulations spanning area borders in mouse sensorimotor cortex.

eLife·2026
Same journal

The exquisite mechanics of a tsetse bite.

eLife·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
08:20

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

11.9K

Episodic long-term memory formation during slow-wave sleep.

Flavio J Schmidig1, Simon Ruch1,2, Katharina Henke1

  • 1Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Elife
|April 25, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

New vocabulary learned during slow-wave sleep is stored and influences later decision-making. Targeted stimulation during sleep troughs enhanced memory recall and semantic encoding.

Keywords:
consciousnesshumanmemoryneurosciencesleepsleep-learningslow-wave sleepunconscious memory

More Related Videos

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice
08:45

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 25, 2016

23.7K
Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice
10:56

Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice

Published on: August 2, 2017

10.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
08:20

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

11.9K
Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice
08:45

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 25, 2016

23.7K
Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice
10:56

Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice

Published on: August 2, 2017

10.0K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Sleep Research

Background:

  • During slow-wave sleep (SWS), the brain remains largely unresponsive but continues to monitor external stimuli for survival.
  • Non-threatening external events encountered during SWS may be stored for later use, potentially improving future decision-making.
  • Understanding the neural mechanisms of memory encoding and consolidation during sleep is crucial for cognitive function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether novel vocabulary can be encoded and stored during SWS.
  • To identify the specific neural-electrical events that facilitate the encoding and storage of new verbal information during sleep.
  • To determine if sleep-dependent memory consolidation of novel vocabulary influences awake decision-making.

Main Methods:

  • Novel vocabulary, comprising pseudowords and their translations, was presented during SWS.
  • A brain-state-dependent stimulation algorithm selectively delivered word pairs during either SWS slow-wave peaks or troughs.
  • Retrieval tests were administered 12 and 36 hours post-sleep to assess decision-making regarding the semantic category of the sleep-played pseudowords.

Main Results:

  • Vocabulary presented during SWS troughs significantly influenced awake decision-making 36 hours later.
  • Linguistic processing of the sleep-played words was associated with increased neural complexity.
  • Semantic-associative encoding was supported by increased theta power during the subsequent slow-wave peak.
  • Enhanced fast-spindle power during a later peak suggested a role in memory consolidation.

Conclusions:

  • Novel vocabulary can be effectively encoded and stored during slow-wave sleep.
  • Targeting specific sleep oscillations (troughs) with external stimuli can facilitate memory consolidation and influence later cognitive performance.
  • Specific neural oscillations, including theta and fast-spindle activity, play distinct roles in the linguistic processing, encoding, and consolidation of newly learned information during sleep.