Manipulating the motor cortex during deep sleep
The study involved six women and seven men who were asked to perform motoric tasks during the day following a night of unperturbed sleep, and after a night during which their deep sleep had been disturbed.
The tasks involved learning a series of finger movements, and the researchers were able to locate precisely the brain area responsible for learning movement.
Using an electroencephalogram, the researchers monitored the brain activity of the participants while they were sleeping.
On the first day of the experiment - after the first movement learning session - the participants were able to sleep without disturbance.
On the second night, however, the researchers manipulated the participants' sleep quality. They were able to focus on the motor cortex and disrupt their deep sleep, thus investigating the impact that poor sleep has on the neuroplasticity involved in practicing new movements.
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