We're joined by Hongi Ngo, who developed a revolutionary technique for manipulating sleep oscillations during his PhD. Closed-loop Auditory Stimulation (CLAS), which uses bursts of pink noise which are carefully timed to a particular phase of an existing brain oscillation to either boost or dampen the target oscillation. It has been used to selectively strengthen or weaken memories, improve the immune response, reduce epileptic seizures, and even potentially to slow down age related cognitive decline.Hongi tells us how he got got the idea for CLAS, explains how it works, and tells us about some of his existing studies. He talks about combining CLAS with Targeted Memory Reactivation (TMR) and discusses the ideas for future of brain modulation methods with techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Some of the key papers discussed are:Auditory closed-loop stimulation of the sleep slow oscillation enhances memory (2013)Auditory closed-loop stimulation of EEG slow oscillations strengthens sleep and signs of its immune-supportive function (2017)Thalamic spindles promote memory formation during sleep thrugh triple phase-locking of cortical, thalamic and hippocampal rhythms (2017)Examining the optimal timing for closed-loop auditory stimulation of slow-wave sleep in young and older adults (2019)Auditory stimulation during sleep suppresses spike activity in benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (2021)Shaping overnight consolidation via slow-oscillation closed-loop targeted memory reactivation (2022)Check out our NaPS website to find out more about the podcast, our research and events. This recording is the property of the Sleep Science Podcast and not for resale.
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S3E5 - Anna Schapiro - Can we model the way REM and NREM replay consolidate memories?
How are memories represented in the brain and how can we model this?Professor Anna Schapiro from University of Pennsylvania as we discuss her work on computational modelling of sleep and memory. In this episode, we discuss several kinds of Neural Network models as well as diving into the history of Jay McClleland's Complementary Learning Systems theory and Anna's recent work on combining neural network modeling with EEG. Find out more about Anna Schapiro and her research group here.Links to articles discussed in this episode:Why there are Complementary Learning Systems in the hippocampus and neocortexMethods for reducing interference in the Complementary Learning Systems modelSelf-recovery of memory via generative replayA unifying account of reply as context-driven memory reactivationHost: Penny LewisEditor: Sophie SmithCheck out our NaPS website to find out more about the podcast, our research and events. This recording is the property of the Sleep Science Podcast and not for resale.
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S3E4 - Rebecca Spencer - Sleep across a lifetime - infant to old age
How does our sleep change as we age and what could this mean for memory and cognition?In this episode, we discuss with Professor Rebecca Spencer her research exploring how our sleep patterns evolve over the course of our lives. We explore the phenomenon of infantile amnesia - why we can't remember our earliest childhood experiences - and unpack the theories behind it. We discuss how hippocampal development changes as we age and how this links to memory consolidation and sleep. We also dive into Rebecca's work on emotional processing in children and how naps and sleeping are able to aid in emotional regulation. Rebecca runs the Somneuro Lab at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Find out more about Rebecca and her research group here.Links to studies in the episode:Napping reduces emotional attention bias during early childhoodUnhealthy diet is associated with poor sleep in preschool-aged childrenTelevision use and its effects on sleep in early childhoodHost: Professor Penny LewisEditor: Sophie SmithCheck out our NaPS website to find out more about the podcast, our research and events. This recording is the property of the Sleep Science Podcast and not for resale.
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S3E3 - Can sleep make us more creative?
In this deep dive episode, we look at how sleep onset can help creativity. With our amazing guest speakers, Professor Bob Stickgold, Dr Adam Horowitz, Professor Delphine Oudiette and Dr Celia Lacaux, we take a look at their work on creativity, dreams and N1 sleep. Together, we discuss different definitions of creativity, what defines N1 and what it is about N1 that makes it prime time for creative processing. Find out more about our guest speakers:Professor Bob StickgoldDr Adam HorowitzProfessor Delphine OudietteDr Celia LacauxPapers from the episode:Sleep onset is a creative sweetspot Replaying the Game: Hypnagogic Images in Normals and AmnesicsDormio: A targeted dream incubation deviceHost: Professor Penny LewisEditor: Sophie Smith Check out our NaPS website to find out more about the podcast, our research and events. This recording is the property of the Sleep Science Podcast and not for resale.
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S3E2 - Francesca Siclari - Parasomnias and dreaming
Sleepwalking, sleep talking, night terrors - how do they occur and why do some people have them more than others?Join us as we discuss with Professor Francesca Siclari her work looking at non-REM parasomnias and the link to dreaming. We discuss the various forms that non-REM parasomnias can take, how they differ between adults and children and what the potential consequences of them can be. Find out more about Francesca and her research group here.Here are links to some of the studies:Conscious experiences during non-REM parasomniasShared EEG correlates between non-REM parasomnia experiences and dreamsConsciousness in non-REM-parasomnia episodes Host: Professor Penny LewisProducer & Editor: Sophie Smith Check out our NaPS website to find out more about the podcast, our research and events. This recording is the property of the Sleep Science Podcast and not for resale.
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