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Making Room for New Memories
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Making Room for New Memories

Clearing neuronal networks from transient memory engrams during sleep consolidates memories.

Andreas Draguhn
Science, 2018
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7

Qualities

  • Scientific
  • For Experts
  • Engaging

Recommendation

When you go to a new place, special neuronal cells in the hippocampus – aptly named place cells – are in charge of remembering it. Recent monitoring of neuronal activity suggests that sleep plays a major role in clearing older spatial memories out of the hippocampus to make room for new ones. During slow-wave sleep, these old memories get transferred to the neocortex by an, as yet, unclear mechanism. If you ever felt the need to justify why you’re going to bed early, getAbstract recommends this article for you.

Take-Aways

  • Spatial memories are made in the hippocampus.
  • During sleep, the hippocampus is cleared out to make room for more new memories.
  • Older memories move to the neocortex for consolidation.

About the Author

Andreas Draguhn is at the Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology at the University of Heidelberg.

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