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The human brain resets when we sleep to save memories – just like Inside Out
Inside Out was the first movie I watched by myself in the cinema, in 2015. Something about it struck me, and I sobbed with abandon. In its wake, scientists have discovered a mechanism by which the human brain consolidates memories not unlike the storing of memories as colored orbs in Riley Andersons mind.
If youre having trouble getting to sleep to begin with, theres a cognitive shuffling trick you could try. Its said to help people nod off in five minutes flat. The mechanisms described by researchers at Cornell University, New York are sleep-dependent, so theres no use in staying up all night worrying about them!
Human brains perform a coordinated firing while asleep that helps save memories
Sleep is essential for brain health. We know this. But were still discovering its variegated wonders.
A group of Cornell scientists published a study in the journal Science on August 15, 2024, in which they describe a mechanism by which the brain coordinates neuronal ensembles during sleep, which in turn helps to store memories.
Neurons are nervous system cells. They also go by the name nerve cell. They communicate with other cells via synapses, which are tiny gaps between brain cells, and send tiny electrical signals across them. When a group of them acts together in concert, if you will its called a neuronal ensemble.
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During sleep, the researchers say, theres an increase in the coordinated firing of neuronal ensembles that were previously active during behavior, i.e. while awake.
So the brain could be said to be repeating the neuronal processes it experienced during wakefulness, while asleep, in order to consolidate those memories more concretely.
The researchers call these coordinated firings sharp-wave ripples, or SWRs. However, they note that its not clear yet exactly how these SWRs are counterbalanced to keep the whole nervous system stable.
What else do we know about how the brain stores memories?
Live Science writes that the simplest answer is that the brain reshapes itself with each new memory.
Simple!
It does this through the actions of synapses (see above). Changes in one cells electrical charge trigger the release of chemicals across synapses, which the neuron on the other side of the gap takes up. This triggers changes in that cell, and the process continues.
Ultimately, says one neuroscientist quoted by Live Science, memories are encoded in circuits.
What changes in the brain when a memory is made is that you have a new circuit encoding that memory.
For what its worth, Inside Out 2 came out on June 14. I didnt catch it in the cinema, but Im told its a real tearjerker.
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