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Journal article

Respiration modulates sleep oscillations and memory reactivation in humans

Abstract:
The beneficial effect of sleep on memory consolidation relies on the precise interplay of slow oscillations and spindles. However, whether these rhythms are orchestrated by an underlying pacemaker has remained elusive. Here, we tested the relationship between respiration, which has been shown to impact brain rhythms and cognition during wake, sleep-related oscillations and memory reactivation in humans. We re-analysed an existing dataset, where scalp electroencephalography and respiration were recorded throughout an experiment in which participants (N = 20) acquired associative memories before taking a nap. Our results reveal that respiration modulates the emergence of sleep oscillations. Specifically, slow oscillations, spindles as well as their interplay (i.e., slow-oscillation_spindle complexes) systematically increase towards inhalation peaks. Moreover, the strength of respiration - slow-oscillation_spindle coupling is linked to the extent of memory reactivation (i.e., classifier evidence in favour of the previously learned stimulus category) during slow-oscillation_spindles. Our results identify a clear association between respiration and memory consolidation in humans and highlight the role of brain-body interactions during sleep.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/s41467-023-43450-5

Authors


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Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-2030-5998
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Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-2885-1280
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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Experimental Psychology
Oxford college:
Wadham College
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-0558-9745


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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/0472cxd90
Grant:
101001121
802681
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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/018mejw64
Grant:
492835154


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Nature Communications More from this journal
Volume:
14
Issue:
1
Article number:
8351
Place of publication:
England
Publication date:
2023-12-18
Acceptance date:
2023-11-09
DOI:
EISSN:
2041-1723
Pmid:
38110418


Language:
English
Pubs id:
1586393
Local pid:
pubs:1586393
Deposit date:
2024-07-22

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