Mechanisms and Functions of Brain Oscillations during Human Non-Rapid-Eye-Movement (NREM) Sleep: a Functional Neuroimaging Approach

人类非快速眼动 (NREM) 睡眠期间大脑振荡的机制和功能：一种功能性神经影像学方法

• 批准号: 436006-2013
• 负责人: DangVu, ThienThanh
• 金额: $ 2.19万
• 依托单位: Concordia University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=631393
• 关键词: Mechanisms; Functions; Brain; Oscillations; during

During sleep in humans, brain function is characterized by rhythmic activities of large numbers of neurons. These rhythmic activities - also called brain oscillations - can be detected through electrodes placed on the scalp during sleep (with an electroencephalogram, or EEG). Brain oscillations of sleep are mostly produced during a sleep stage called non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep, which accounts for approximately 75% of total sleep in adults. Two main types of brain oscillations during sleep are described: waxing-and-waning oscillations called sleep spindles, and high amplitude oscillations called slow waves. Past research has used techniques of brain imaging to show that activity is intense in certain regions of the brain during sleep spindles and slow waves, which demonstrates that the brain still remains very active during sleep. Recent research has also indicated that brain oscillations of sleep, especially spindles, prevent external stimulation (such as noise) from disrupting the stability of sleep. Brain oscillations are thus the pillars of brain activity during sleep, and are therefore likely to play an essential role in the understanding of the functions of sleep.In this project, our objective it to evaluate how brain oscillations of sleep help us to learn and remember new information during the day. In particular, we will used sophisticated brain imaging techniques (in particular functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI) to study brain oscillations during sleep and relate them to memory performance during the daytime. We will also study how brain oscillations during a sleep following a night of sleep deprivation will help us to recover our abilities to learn information during the next day. The current project will thus shed new light on the mechanisms of important functions of sleep, such as the maintenance of optimal learning and memory performances. The project will also bring new insight on the mechanisms and functions of brain oscillations during sleep, which constitute examples of spontaneous activities of the brain.

在人类睡眠期间，大脑功能的特点是大量神经元的节律性活动。这些有节奏的活动——也被称为大脑振荡——可以在睡眠时通过放置在头皮上的电极（用脑电图或EEG）来检测。睡眠的大脑振荡主要是在非快速眼动睡眠阶段产生的，这一阶段约占成年人睡眠总量的75%。研究描述了睡眠期间两种主要的大脑振荡：一种是被称为睡眠纺锤波的起伏振荡，另一种是被称为慢波的高振幅振荡。过去的研究利用脑成像技术表明，在睡眠中，大脑的某些区域在纺锤波和慢波期间活动强烈，这表明大脑在睡眠期间仍然非常活跃。最近的研究也表明，睡眠的大脑振荡，特别是纺锤波，可以防止外部刺激（如噪音）破坏睡眠的稳定性。因此，大脑振荡是睡眠期间大脑活动的支柱，因此可能在理解睡眠功能方面发挥重要作用。在这个项目中，我们的目标是评估睡眠的大脑振荡如何帮助我们在白天学习和记忆新信息。特别是，我们将使用复杂的脑成像技术（特别是功能性磁共振成像，或fMRI）来研究睡眠期间的大脑振荡，并将其与白天的记忆表现联系起来。我们还将研究一夜睡眠不足后，睡眠中的大脑振荡如何帮助我们在第二天恢复学习信息的能力。因此，目前的项目将为睡眠重要功能的机制，如维持最佳的学习和记忆性能，提供新的思路。该项目还将为睡眠期间大脑振荡的机制和功能带来新的见解，这构成了大脑自发活动的例子。