Many lifestyle choices have the potential to affect your cognitive abilities. In recent years, various researchers have found that a habit that most of us take for granted — sleep — may affect our memory in noticeable ways.
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| |  | | Many lifestyle choices have the potential to affect your cognitive abilities. In recent years, various researchers have found that a habit that most of us take for granted — sleep — may affect our memory in noticeable ways. | | Memories and the entorhinal cortex | | In a recent study from the journal Nature Neuroscience, UCLA neurophysics professor Mayank R. Mehta found that a brain area called the entorhinal cortex plays a key role in memory consolidation during sleep. Memory consolidation is the process that stores and reinforces long-term memories so you can draw on them later.
While the mice in Mehta's study slept, their entorhinal cortices displayed activation patterns very similar to patterns that occurred when the mice remembered something during the day. This nighttime activity, in turn, spurred neural activity in the hippocampus.
The hippocampus has often been considered a central player in long-term memory consolidation during sleep, and this study shows that the processes may be far more complex than previously thought. | | Sleep may provide direction for Alzheimer’s research | | Not only can Mehta’s research help us understand how we strengthen memories during sleep, but it may also provide clues for investigating Alzheimer's disease — which begins in the entorhinal cortex and often involves impaired sleep. Of course, human brains differ greatly from those of mice, and further research will be needed to truly understand the entorhinal cortex's role in memory consolidation. | | Sleep well and stay sharp | | This study reminds us of the complex ties between lifestyle habits and cognition — and reaffirms the importance of getting enough sleep each night. With many new studies continuing to find evidence that our brains are hard at work during the night, most scientists agree that getting a decent night’s rest is a good idea. | | | | | Purchase Plans | | Huge savings compared to an individual plan! |  | | Family Plan | | The Lumosity Family Plan lets you add up to 4 friends and family members to your account for free. | | |  | | Group Plan | | Group plans for 10, 25, or 50 people. Enjoy Group Plan pricing and easily manage multiple accounts. | | | |  |  | | Unlock your Lumosity Training Program to enjoy: | | • | Personalized daily workouts | | • | All 40+ games | | • | Training Reminders | | • | How You Compare | | • | Training History | | • | Free mobile training | | | | | | | | | | | |
