The brain is processing information while we sleep.

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July 27, 2023

While we rest peacefully at night, our brains remain hard at work. They are processing the events we experienced that day and consolidating them in memory, while simultaneously keeping track of what is going on around us, cleansing toxins, and preparing us for the next day.

So much of the brain's innerworkings are still a mystery — and even more so when we are asleep. How much does the brain process from the outside world while we are sleeping comfortably, though? It turns out, brains never completely tune out the environment and are always making connections. Several U.S. National Science Foundation-powered studies have found different ways the brain is processing information while we sleep. In addition, these research paths may lead to ways to enhance learning and treatments for some characteristics of neurological disorders.

Read the full story from Science Matters.

The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.

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