There is a research study investigating the effect of electric current to the brain during sleep. Their findings show an 8% increase in memory when they use a certain frequency.
"Students we tested were better at remembering a vocabulary list with oscillating electric stimulation," said lead researcher Jan Born, from the Department of Neuroendocrinology at the University of Luebeck, in Germany. "Between stimulation we observed increased slow oscillating activity, which is generated by the brain itself. This intensifies slow-wave sleep," he said.
It is possible that electric stimulation might enhance the memory of older patients or patients with Alzheimer's, Born said. "We can improve the function of slow-wave sleep and therefore memory," Born said. "It could also have an application in sleep disturbances, because this stimulation also improves sleep."
Born reported his findings in the Nov 5 online edition of Nature.
There seems to be a hot debate over whether memory is actually enhanced. Some believe this could herald a new way to learn, while others say bah humbug to the whole idea that memory can be enhanced during sleep.
I thought this was an interesting article. Especially the idea that using an electric current while we sleep may improve sleep. I don't know about you, but I'll take just about anything that can impove my sleep.
Dale L. Edwards
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