Sleep-dependent memory consolidation

In 1924 Jenkins and Dallenbach presented the first experimental evidence for the existence of sleep dependent memory consolidation. In this thesis the role of sleep in memory consolidation is viewed. A separation is made between declarative and non-declarative memory systems. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the role of sleep on the different memory systems and also which molecular changes could be found in the brain during a period of sleep deprivation and the same period of sleep. The results showed convincing evidence for the role of sleep in declarative and non-declarative memory consolidation processes. Furthermore it is proved that during sleep there are molecular changes in the brain. These changes in molecules of plasticity support the brain to consolidate new memories. It seems that in humans generally the consolidation of declarative memory is slow wave sleep (SWS) dependent. The consolidation of non-declarative memory seems to rely mostly on REM sleep.