By Society for Neuroscience
January 17, 2022
Researchers at the University of Salzburg measured the brain activity of sleeping adults in reaction to familiar and unknown voices. Unknown voices generated more K-complexes, a type of brain wave linked to sensory perturbances throughout sleep, compared to familiar voices. While familiar voices can also trigger K-complexes, only those triggered by unknown voices are accompanied by large-scale changes in brain activity linked to sensory processing.
Scientists at the University of Salzburg determined the brain activity of sleeping grownups in action to familiar and unknown voices. Unfamiliar voices generated more K-complexes, a kind of brain wave linked to sensory perturbances throughout sleep, compared to familiar voices. While familiar voices can also set off K-complexes, just those set off by unfamiliar voices are accompanied by large-scale changes in brain activity connected to sensory processing.
: The distinction in between UFV and FV in the number of triggered K-complexes was substantial from 100ms to 800ms.: The difference in the number of micro-arousals between FVs and UFVs was considerable in the periods from 200 to 400ms, and from 500 to 700ms.
Brain actions to the unknown voice happened less often as the night went on and the voice ended up being more familiar, showing the brain might still be able to discover during sleep. These outcomes recommend K-complexes permit the brain to enter a “guard processing mode,” where the brain stays asleep however maintains the capability to react to appropriate stimuli.
Reference: “The brain selectively tunes to unknown voices throughout sleep” 17 January 2022, JNeurosci.DOI: 10.1523/ JNEUROSCI.2524-20.2021.
The ability permits the brain to stabilize sleep with reacting to environmental cues.
A great nights sleep is not as simple as it appears. While you snooze, your brain continues to keep track of the environment, balancing the need to protect sleep with the requirement to awaken. One example of how the brain achieves this is by selectively responding to unknown voices over familiar ones, according to new research released in JNeurosci.
