In this episode, we interviewed Professor Reto Huber, who leads a research group at the University Children’s Hospital, Zurich. Reto’s interests encompass sleep disorders, development, synaptic plasticity and regeneration.

In this episode we discuss local sleep, a process whereby different parts of the brain express different depths of sleep or wake at different times. We consider the relationship of local sleep to phenomena such as sleep walking and sleep talking, and Reto explains a series of experiments exploring how local sleep relates to learning.

We then consider the use of drosophila as a model to study sleep and the sleep homeostasis hypothesis before switching topic to discuss the developing brain and sleep. Reto explains some important experiments linking sleep to plasticity. We discuss the differences in slow wave activity throughout development, and how the activity corresponds to experience dependent plasticity. We then consider a potential link to childhood conditions such as ADHD.

Finally, Reto explains closed loop auditory stimulation and some recent findings relating to local sleep and learning. We end the episode by exploring the potential use of the technique in clinical settings.

If you would like to read more on Reto's work, you can find a link to his publications here.

Glossary:

Local Sleep - A phenomenon in which different parts of the brain experience different depths of sleep or wake at different times.

Sleep Homeostasis- The optimal balancing of sleep and wake driven by sleep pressure and our circadian rhythms

Synaptic Homeostasis- Renormalising of overall synaptic strength to restore cellular homeostasis, prevent saturation and allow further memory formation following a day of learning

ADHD- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Closed Loop Auditory Stimulation- A method designed to enhance slow wave activity during sleep through auditory stimuli

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Episode produced by Vanessa Hyde & Sophie Smith

This recording is property of the sleep science podcast and not for resale