Sleep Spindles

Question 1

Clemens et al

In terms of sleep spindles how were they associated with name and face recall?

Answer 1

Overnight verbal memory retention correlated with number of spindles at left fronto-central electrodes
Suggests SS related to memory consolidation

Question 2

Hennies et al

How were sleep spindles specifically related to memory?

Answer 2

Learn a schema over two weeks then new facts either schema-related or not
SS predicted an increase in the schema benefit over the retention period and decay of schema related memories
SS related to the interaction between new and existing knowledge

Question 3

How have sleep spindles been linked with neural plasticity?

Answer 3

Learning of paired word associations was linked with increased spindle density in the first sleep cycle

Question 4

How is motor learning facilitated by sleep spindles

Answer 4

Performance improvements correlated not only with amount of N2 but specifically with lateralised spindle activity

Question 5

Marshall et al

What effect was seen through the induction of slow oscillation using transcranial stimulation?

Answer 5

Declarative memory tested
And enhanced relative to stimulation as were spindles
Causal role between slow waves and spindles - possibly spindles mediate slow wave production