Purpose of review
The review summarizes current knowledge about what
fMRI has revealed regarding the neurobehavioral correlates of
sleep deprivation and sleep-dependent
memory consolidation.
Recent findings
Functional imaging studies of
sleep deprivation have characterized its effects on a number of cognitive domains, the best studied of these being working
memory. There is a growing appreciation that it is important to consider interindividual differences in vulnerability to
sleep deprivation, task and task difficulty when interpreting imaging results. Our understanding of the role of sleep and the dynamic evolution of offline
memory consolidation has benefited greatly from human imaging studies. Both hippocampal-dependent and hippocampal-independent
memory systems have been studied.
Summary
Functional imaging studies contrasting sleep-deprived and well-rested brains provide substantial evidence that sleep is highly important for optimal cognitive function and learning. The experimental paradigms developed to date merit evaluation in clinical settings to determine the impact of sleep disruption in sleep disorders.
