Scientists discover sleep “reset” mechanism in the brain that prevents memory overload. Researchers found that a burst of neural silence in a specific part of the brain in mice, the hippocampus, allows neurons involved in memory to reset and prepare for new learning the following day.

I’ve linked to the news release in the post above. In this comment, for those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado5708

From the linked article:

Scientists discover sleep “reset” mechanism in the brain that prevents memory overload

A recent study published in Science has identified a previously unknown mechanism in the brain that occurs during sleep, helping to reset memory pathways. Researchers found that a burst of neural silence in a specific part of the brain, the hippocampus, allows neurons involved in memory to reset and prepare for new learning the following day. This phenomenon, termed a “barrage of action potentials” or “BARR,” allows neurons to reset, ensuring that our brains can continue storing new information without overwhelming the neural networks responsible for memory.

The researchers used a combination of advanced techniques, including electrode implants and optogenetics, to monitor and manipulate neuronal activity in the hippocampus. The electrodes allowed the team to track specific brain regions, while optogenetics—a method that uses light to control genetically modified neurons—enabled them to selectively activate or silence particular groups of neurons during sleep.

The most significant discovery was the identification of the BARR event, which acts as a kind of “reset button” for neurons in the hippocampus. During sleep, when the brain is replaying memories through SWRs, certain neurons in the CA2 region switch off. This period of silence allows the neurons that were heavily used during learning to reset, preparing them for new learning the next day.