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Sleep and Memory

Our team

Sleep plays an important role in memory. As sleep can change with age and in many neurological conditions, it is important that we understand how we can optimise sleep to improve cognitive function and quality of life. We are therefore interested in exploring the processes that underly memory consolidation that occur during sleep, and how we can enhance or modulate these features to best facilitate these processes.  

We conduct both overnight and nap studies, using a range of techniques including: 

  • EEG/PSG - used to measures electrical brain activity, eye movements, and muscle tone during sleep
  • MEG - a brain imaging technique used to measure magnetic brain activity 
  • Transcranial Electrical Stimulation - used to alter brain rhythms during sleep
  • Computer based tasks - used for a range of assessments, including for memory and alertness
  • Questionnaires - used to measure a range of outcomes, including subjective sleep

OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE PART IN CURRENT RESEARCH

SeRCLES
Stimulating brain rhythms during sleep

We are looking for healthy volunteers aged 18-35 years of age, for a study investigating how a safe and painless type of brain stimulation affects our sleep patterns and memory. 

The study involves 3 visits to the sleep lab in Oxford during the day (~11am-4pm each visit). The sessions will involve completing questionnaires, cognitive tasks, and having a daytime nap while we deliver the brain stimulation and measure your brain activity.  

You will be compensated for your time and travel expenses.

You can read the participant information sheet, which provides full details of what is involved.

If you would like to find out more about the study or if you have any questions, please contact Tess or Anna:

Email: sleep-win@ndcn.ox.ac.uk

Ethics Ref: R89942/RE001; V1.0, 24/11/2023

Long-TRM
Investigating long-term effects of targeted memory reactivation of memories during sleep using M/EEG

We are looking for healthy volunteers aged 18-35 years of age who are not pregnant, for a study investigating whether enhancing memories during sleep with sounds provides any long-lasting memory benefits.

The study involves visits across three weeks, with the first visit including spending a night in a sleep lab in Oxford. The subsequent 3 visits will take place in the evenings at Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity (OHBA) in Oxford 1 day, 1 week, and 3 weeks after the sleep visit (duration ~1 hour). These sessions will involve completing questionnaires and cognitive tasks while we measure brain activity with MEG and EEG. If you have not previously had an MRI scan at the centre, we also ask that you have a short scan. You will be asked questions about your medical history to check your suitability for an MRI scan.

You will be reimbursed for your time.

You can read the participant information sheet, which provides full details of what is involved.

If you would like to find out more about the study or if you have any questions, please contact Anna:

Email: sleep-win@ndcn.ox.ac.uk

Ethics Ref: R92112/RE001; V1.0 04/2024