Sleep and Memory: Remembering & Forgetting

A new article in Newsweek provides an overview of how “sleeping on it” improves memory.

Forming memories. Consolidating memories. Making connections between memories. Sleep appears to play an important role in all these processes.

Another Newsweek article examines whether or not we can learn to forget. New research shows that memory “reconsolidation” may be possible.

Being able to change long-term memories could have practical benefits. In particular it could aid people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Nightmares tend to be the most disturbing feature of PTSD. Most people with PTSD also report having disturbed sleep.

Finally, Newsweek offers an online memory Q&A. Find answers to some of the most common questions about memory.