Sleep, hormones, and memory.
Nocturnal sleep is characterized by a unique pattern of endocrine activity, which comprises reciprocal influences on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and the somatotropic system. During early sleep, when slow wave sleep (SWS) prevails, HPA secretory activity is suppressed whereas growth hormone (GH) release reaches a maximum; this pattern is reversed during late sleep when rapid eye movement (REM) sleep predominates. SWS benefits the consolidation of hippocampus-dependent declarative memories, whereas REM sleep improves amygdala-dependent emotional memories and procedural skill memories involving striato-cortical circuitry. Manipulation of plasma cortisol and GH concentration during sleep revealed a primary role of HPA activity for memory consolidation. Pituitary-adrenal inhibition during SWS sleep represents a prerequisite for efficient consolidation of declarative memory; increased cortisol during late REM sleep seems to protect from an overshooting consolidation of emotional memories.
Born
Jan
J
Department of Neuroendocrinology, University of Lübeck, Haus 23a, Lübeck, Germany. born@kfg.uni-luebeck.de
Wagner
Ullrich
U
D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000502:physiology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology
D006728:Hormones; D013006:Growth Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone