RIKEN researchers found that positive emotional experiences strengthen perceptual memories during non-REM sleep, but not REM sleep, in mice. This memory enhancement involves a circuit connecting the amygdala, motor cortex, and sensory cortex. The amygdala's role is crucial; blocking its signals during non-REM sleep prevented memory retention. These findings suggest potential new treatments for conditions like addiction and PTSD by manipulating amygdala activity during non-REM sleep. The study, published in Neuron, utilized experimental animal models to demonstrate a clear link between emotion, memory consolidation, and specific sleep stages.

https://neurosciencenews.com/sleep-emotion-memory-28402/

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