What Mechanisms Underlie Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation?
Several mechanisms are proposed to underlie sleep-dependent memory consolidation:
1. Synaptic Homeostasis: This theory suggests that sleep helps to balance synaptic strength by downscaling synapses that were potentiated during wakefulness, thus preventing synaptic overload and preserving important synaptic changes.
2. Reactivation: During sleep, particularly SWS, neural patterns associated with recent learning experiences are reactivated. This reactivation, often detected as sleep spindles and sharp-wave ripples, is believed to strengthen memory traces.
3. Neurochemical Environment: The neurochemical milieu during sleep, characterized by low levels of acetylcholine and high levels of growth hormone, creates an optimal environment for memory consolidation.
