Pharmacological REM sleep suppression paradoxically improves rather than impairs skill memory.
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep has been considered important for consolidation of memories, particularly of skills. Contrary to expectations, we found that REM sleep suppression by administration of selective serotonin or norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors after training did not impair consolidation of skills or word-pairs in healthy men but rather enhanced gains in finger tapping accuracy together with sleep spindles. Our results indicate that REM sleep as a unitary phenomenon is not required for skill-memory consolidation.
University of Lübeck, Department of Neuroendocrinology, Haus 23a, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany. rasch@kfg.uni-luebeck.de
Björn
B
Rasch
Julian
J
Pommer
Susanne
S
Diekelmann
Jan
J
Born
D000293:Adolescent; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D001245:Association Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D000077593:Reboxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D002395:Catecholamines; D016666:Fluvoxamine; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009025:Morpholines; D000077593:Reboxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors