The elaboration and refinement of neural circuitry continues to a lesser extent in the adult brain. The process of growth, known as plasticity, is believed to underlie the brain's capacity to control behavior, including learning and memory.
Plasticity occurs when neurons are stimulated by events, or information, from the environment.
In their study, the researchers examined the effect of sleep on brain plasticity after cats experienced an environmental challenge. They determined that animals allowed to sleep for six hours after the period of environmental stimulation developed twice the amount of brain change as those cats kept awake during that time. The animals that were allowed to sleep even had slightly more brain change than the animals whose environmental challenge continued during the additional six hours. While the study focused specifically on the impact of sleep on neuronal remodeling during the critical period for visual development in the cat, the researchers believe the finding has broader implications, not just for plasticity during development in other brain structures, but for plasticity in the adult brain. If this is shown to be the case, sleep could prove an important part of the strategy for preparing for such challenges as exams.