Sleep deprivation inhibits the brain's ability to suppress unwanted memories
· News-MedicalA new study has shown that sleep deprivation can inhibit the brain's ability to suppress unwanted memories and intrusive thoughts.
Scientists at the University of York, in collaboration with the University of East Anglia, have shown that sleep deprivation interferes with the ability of the prefrontal area of the brain to restrict the retrieval of memories that would have otherwise been suppressed.
Suppression is a very clever function of the brain as it weakens all of the connecting traces of the memory, thereby inhibiting us from joining up all the dots to retrieve the full picture of the experience when it is triggered by an external stimulus." Dr. Scott Cairney, University of YorkMemories of unpleasant experiences often intrude into our conscious mind in response to reminders, but tend to be fleeting and can be put out of the mind again, but we have previously shown that the brain's ability to suppress such intrusive memories is contingent on obtaining restful sleep.
The rested participants also showed reduced activity in the hippocampus - a brain region involved in memory retrieval - during attempts to suppress unwanted memories, demonstrating that they could 'shut down' the retrieval operations that underpin emerging intrusive thoughts.
"This is really important to our understanding of mental health issues as it is well documented that those who suffer with anxiety, depression or PTSD, also have difficulty with sleep. Now that we have better understanding of the the mechanisms in the brain that can help restrict negative memories and thoughts, we can perhaps work on more targeted treatments and behavioural therapies that help with improving sleep and as a result support the brain in doing what it has so cleverly adapted to doing, allowing us to lead mentally fit lives."
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