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Sleep, learning, and dreams: off-line memory reprocessing.

Robert Stickgold, J A Hobson, Roar Fosse, Magdalena J Fosse

Science (New York, N.Y.) November 2, 2001 DOI: 10.1126/science.1063530 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Review Peer reviewed
Keywords Non-programmatic
Key findings Evidence supports a role for sleep in the consolidation of an array of learning and memory tasks, and new methodologies permit the experimental manipulation of dream content at sleep onset.

Abstract

Converging evidence and new research methodologies from across the neurosciences permit the neuroscientific study of the role of sleep in off-line memory reprocessing, as well as the nature and function of dreaming. Evidence supports a role for sleep in the consolidation of an array of learning and memory tasks. In addition, new methodologies allow the experimental manipulation of dream content at sleep onset, permitting an objective and scientific study of this dream formation and a renewed search for the possible functions of dreaming and the biological processes subserving it.