Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Twente, Enschede, PO Box 217 7500AE, The Netherlands.
Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 10;14(1):23681. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-75463-5.
Memory consolidation involves repeated replay of new information by the hippocampus, which transfers memories to the neocortex for long-term storage. This occurs mainly during slow wave sleep, a phase characterized in the cortex by low cholinergic tone and low afferent input. High cholinergic tone has been shown to hamper memory consolidation, probably mediated by reduced network excitability (the ease of activity propagation in a network). We used cortical neuronal networks on multi electrode arrays to investigate whether low background input contributes to memory consolidation. Networks received focal electrical stimuli to memorize, with or without background afferent input (global optogenetic stimulation). Background stimulation hampered memory formation and consolidation, confirming the importance of low background input. Moreover, it lowered network excitability, similar to high cholinergic tone. These findings suggest that high network excitability is a critical feature of slow wave sleep that facilitates memory consolidation.
记忆巩固涉及海马体对新信息的反复回放，将记忆转移到大脑皮层进行长期存储。这主要发生在慢波睡眠期间，此时皮层的特点是胆碱能张力低，传入输入低。高胆碱能张力已被证明会阻碍记忆巩固，可能是通过降低网络兴奋性（网络中活动传播的容易程度）来介导的。我们使用多电极阵列上的皮质神经元网络来研究低背景输入是否有助于记忆巩固。网络接收聚焦电刺激以记忆，有或没有背景传入输入（全局光遗传学刺激）。背景刺激阻碍了记忆的形成和巩固，证实了低背景输入的重要性。此外，它降低了网络兴奋性，类似于高胆碱能张力。这些发现表明，高网络兴奋性是促进记忆巩固的慢波睡眠的一个关键特征。
