Researchers at MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory have discovered that sleep plays a crucial role in helping mice form cohesive cognitive maps of new spaces. The study, published in Cell Reports, found that when mice explore a new environment, their brains create individual “place cells” that represent specific locations. However, it takes several days for the brain to link these individual locations into a comprehensive cognitive map.
To understand how this process works, scientists monitored hundreds of neurons in the hippocampus, a region responsible for spatial memory. They found that mice’s activity patterns changed significantly over time, with weakly spatial cells – those not strongly attuned to specific locations – gradually correlating their activity with other neurons. This allowed the brain to stitch together individual locations into a mental map.
The study revealed that sleep is essential for this process. When mice were allowed to sleep after exploring a new maze, they showed significant refinement of their cognitive map. In contrast, mice that didn’t get enough sleep failed to show any improvement. The researchers believe that sleep helps cells become better attuned both to places and patterns of network activity.
The cognitive maps formed by the mice are not literal, precise maps but rather schematics that provide the brain with a topology for exploration. This process highlights the importance of sleep in learning and intelligence.
Source: https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/sleep-is-key-to-adapting-in-new-vacation-spots-394910