The neural correlates of human cognitive abilities during sleep

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Research has shown that when faced with a problem to solve, the old adage to “sleep on it” is good advice. Here, we ask the question: How does the sleeping brain support the ability to solve new problems, and acquire new cognitive strategies? My previous work has shown that sleep supports the process of forming new memories when a new rule is learned and used to solve a problem. Surprisingly, my work has also revealed that the characteristic features of sleep: “sleep spindles”, are the only known spontaneous electrophysiological oscillations that are related to reasoning skills. However, the neural basis of the relationship between problem solving and sleep is not known, thus limiting our understanding how sleep supports daytime cognitive functioning. In this way, sleep may serve as a window into understanding our ability to arrive at novel solutions to complex problems. The proposed research will employ an innovative combination of electroencephalography (EEG), magnetic resonance neuroimaging (MRI) and cognitive testing to uncover the neural substrates that support waking cognitive function. By contributing to a better understanding of the functions of sleep, this research will allow us to better understand the impact of sleep loss, which affects up to 40% of the population. This work is an important first step that may ultimately lead to the development of novel interventions utilizing spindle-enhancing neuromodulatory techniques (e.g., using pharmacological agents, brain stimulation or neurofeedback) to improve daytime cognitive performance.