Browsing by Subject "emotionaalisen muistin konsolidaatio"

The present review describes the multidimensional connection between REM sleep and emotional processing as a possible mechanism for explaining depression. Previous studies have found abnormalities in the amount and structure of REM sleep in depressed patients and those who have a high risk for depression. Indeed, REM sleep deprivation has been found to have rapid mood-enhancing effects. Recent behavioral research has explored the effect of REM sleep on emotional memory consolidation and emotional reactivity, as well as the impact of emotional experience on the amount and quality of REM sleep. Two theories accounting for this connection have been suggested. The first proposes that REM sleep consolidates emotional memories, but the associated affective tone is de-potentiated. According to the second model, the emotional change associated with emotional memory is reinforced as a result of REM sleep. The data was collected in December 2018 from the PsychInfo and PubMed databases. A total of nine experimental behavioral studies met the selection criteria and were selected for the review. Seven of these studied the effect of REM sleep on emotional processing while two focused on the effect of an emotional stimulus on REM sleep. The studies reviewed provided support for the emotional memory consolidating effect of REM sleep. However, conflicting results also emerged: in some studies, REM sleep did not have any clear impact on emotional memory. According to the studies using psychophysiological measures, the emotional reactivity associated with memories increased. These results are in line with the model proposing that REM sleep consolidates the emotional charge of the negative emotional memory or at least reduces its attenuation over time. Emotional stimuli had no effect on sleep during the following night. In light of these results, it seems that changes in sleep structure are not immediate. Thus, the connection between REM sleep and emotional processes is not yet clear, and further research is required to understand the role of REM sleep behind mood disorders.