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Scientists Are on the Verge of Creating ‘Artificial Naps.’ However, They Require You to Implant an Electrode

  • A recent study found that brain waves contribute to some of the benefits of sleep.

  • Researchers replicated the effects of these waves in an experiment conducted with macaques.

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Pablo Martínez-Juarez

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Environmental economist and science journalist. For a few years, I worked as a researcher on the economics of climate change adaptation. Now I write about that and much more. LinkedIn

Some people choose to nap; others prefer not to. For many, a midday nap helps them regain energy and improve their ability to engage in evening activities. However, others find that a full night’s sleep is enough and that they function better without a siesta. But what is it about sleep that affects our capabilities so significantly?

The study. Recent research focused on naps explored the mechanisms at play in the human brain during sleep. The study, published in Science, also sought to develop tools that can mimic the benefits of sleep without actually requiring people to sleep.

Not merely a form of rest. Inactivity can’t compensate for a lack of sleep. Not enough sleep can lead to various problems, including diminished concentration, agility, and reflexes. It may also impact our mood, mental health, and overall well-being.

Sleep science is a crucial area within the health sector. One of its primary goals is to understand the reasons behind these issues. While the scientific community doesn’t yet have a definitive answer, the recent study offers new insights.

The experiment. The research team conducted an experiment involving several macaques. The apes were required to perform a visual discrimination task that demanded cognitive effort: determining whether the figures displayed on a screen were identical. Each macaque repeated the task twice, before and after a break.

During the break, some of the macaques took a short 30-minute nap, while others rested without sleeping. The brief duration of the nap allowed the apes to remain in the non-rapid eye movement sleep phase.

The team observed that the macaques who had napped completed the second task with greater agility than those who had remained awake. This suggests that the nap improved their performance in the second task.

A matter of synchrony? Researchers monitored the macaques’ brains throughout the experiment. During the rest period, they used polysomnography to determine whether the animals were asleep or awake. During the activity, the team monitored key brain regions to gather data for the study.

Scientists discovered that the neurons in the sleeping macaques had lost synchrony. This observation led researchers to interpret the lack of synchrony as allowing the neurons of the sleeping individuals to function more independently. As a result, it improved the accuracy with which their brains processed information.

Delta waves. What happens during sleep? The research team observed an increase in low-frequency delta wave activity during sleep. This finding prompted a repetition of the experiment, this time inducing delta waves externally rather than through sleep.

To achieve this, the team applied 4 Hz waves to the apes, successfully emulating the effects of sleep in the animals that were awake. Researchers reported both a loss of neuronal synchrony and an improvement in performance on a visual test.

Brain clearance. There’s still much to learn about sleep and its mechanisms. Since there are likely multiple ways in which sleep benefits our overall functioning, it’s important to explore these further.

For instance, the glymphatic system, which clears the brain of toxins and waste, operates during sleep. However, this system doesn’t work during short naps. As such, the benefits of brief sleep periods can’t be attributed to this process.

Image | Vitaly Gariev

Related | We Suspected Consuming Caffeine While Being Sleep Deprived Wasn’t Very Healthy. A New Study Has Just Confirmed It

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