title: Local increase of sleep slow wave activity after three weeks of working memory training in children and adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence is accumulating that electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep slow wave activity (SWA), the key characteristic of deep sleep, is regulated not only globally, but also locally. Several studies have shown local learning- and use-dependent changes in SWA. In vitro and in vivo animal experiments and studies in humans indicate that these local changes in SWA reflect synaptic plasticity. During maturation, when synaptic changes are most prominent, learning is of utmost importance. Thus, in this study, we aimed to examine whether intensive working memory training for 3 w would lead to a local increase of sleep SWA using high-density EEG recordings in children and young adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sleep laboratory at the University Children's Hospital Zurich.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen healthy subjects between 10 and 16 y.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three weeks of intensive working memory training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After intensive working memory training, sleep SWA was increased in a small left frontoparietal cluster (11.06 ± 1.24%, mean ± standard error of the mean). In addition, the local increase correlated positively with increased working memory performance assessed immediately (r = 0.66) and 2 to 5 mo (r = 0.68) after the training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase in slow wave activity (SWA) correlates with cognitive training-induced plasticity in a region known to be involved in working memory performance. Thus, in future, the mapping of sleep SWA may be used to longitudinally monitor the effects of working memory training in children and adolescents with working memory deficiencies.
authors: Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.|Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Fiona
authors: F
authors: Pugin
authors: Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.|Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Division of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Andreas J
authors: AJ
authors: Metz
authors: Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.|Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Division of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Wolf
authors: Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.|Chronobiology and Sleep Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Achermann
authors: Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.|Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.|Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Oskar G
authors: OG
authors: Jenni
authors: Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.|Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.|Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Reto
authors: R
authors: Huber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: auditory working memory; electroencephalography; plasticity; sleep SWA; training