The Role of Sleep in Learning and Memory

1. Some stress may lead to an increase in REM sleep, but very little increase in REM sleep occurs when there is not new information to be learned. Thus, they are tied to each other.

2. During REM sleep, new information is strengthened while the older images and information is weakened.

3. While sleep is not critical for memory consolidation, it is crucial for visual perceptual learning.

4. Sleep is part of the processes that consolidate and trace memories, or turn memories into long-term.

5. Sleep deprivation has been known to impair a various of tasks, but it is the reason for sleep deprivation that may also lead to memory impairment