Most people would agree that staying up all night to study for an exam is probably not the best approach despite having been in that unpleasant situation at some point or another. You may have even heard that sleep is important for memory consolidation. But have you ever thought about why that may be true?
A new study at Brandeis University has provided clues as to how sleep and memory are related. Specifically, researchers looked at a pair of neurons in Drosophila melanogaster—the common fruit fly. These neurons, referred to as dorsal paired medial (DPM) neurons, are responsible for memory consolidation in Drosophila, and these researchers wanted to know if these specific neurons played a role in sleep regulation.
Image source: Nadly Aizat Images
To investigate this, the scientists used special cell techniques to activate the DPM neurons in the flies. They found that activation of DPM neurons caused the flies to fall asleep. They observed that these neurons release a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) that inhibits another part of the Drosophila brain called the mushroom body, which aids in learning, memory, and alertness. When the DPM neurons were no longer activated, and thus not inhibiting the mushroom body, the flies slept less.
In other words, the activation of DPM neurons that promote long-term memory formation puts the flies to sleep, while the inactivation of DPM neurons allows the mushroom body to function and therefore keeps the flies awake, allowing them to learn and form short-term memories. These results bring us closer to understanding sleep and memory in humans.
So while it may be necessary at times to stay up late learning material for an exam, it is also important to get some shut-eye so that you can remember said material during the exam.
Feature Image Source: Sleeping by Andrew Roberts
