How does our sleep change as we age and what could this mean for memory and cognition?

In this episode, we discuss with Professor Rebecca Spencer her research exploring how our sleep patterns evolve over the course of our lives.

We explore the phenomenon of infantile amnesia - why we can't remember our earliest childhood experiences - and unpack the theories behind it. We discuss how hippocampal development changes as we age and how this links to memory consolidation and sleep. We also dive into Rebecca's work on emotional processing in children and how naps and sleeping are able to aid in emotional regulation.

Rebecca runs the Somneuro Lab at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Find out more about Rebecca and her research group here.

Links to studies in the episode:

• Napping reduces emotional attention bias during early childhood
• Unhealthy diet is associated with poor sleep in preschool-aged children
• Television use and its effects on sleep in early childhood

Host: Professor Penny Lewis

Editor: Sophie Smith

Check out our NaPS website to find out more about our team, our research and events.

This recording is the property of the Sleep Science Podcast and not for resale.

In this deep dive episode, we look at how sleep onset can help creativity.

With our amazing guest speakers, Professor Bob Stickgold, Dr Adam Horowitz, Professor Delphine Oudiette and Dr Celia Lacaux, we take a look at their work on creativity, dreams and N1 sleep.

Together, we discuss different definitions of creativity, what defines N1 and what it is about N1 that makes it prime time for creative processing.

Find out more about our guest speakers:

• Professor Bob Stickgold
• Dr Adam Horowitz
• Professor Delphine Oudiette
• Dr Celia Lacaux

Papers from the episode:

• Sleep onset is a creative sweetspot
• Replaying the Game: Hypnagogic Images in Normals and Amnesics
• Dormio: A targeted dream incubation device

Host: Professor Penny Lewis
Editor: Sophie Smith

Check out our NaPS website to find out more about our team, our research and events.

This recording is the property of the Sleep Science Podcast and not for resale.

Sleepwalking, sleep talking, night terrors - how do they occur and why do some people have them more than others?

Join us as we discuss with Professor Francesca Siclari her work looking at non-REM parasomnias and the link to dreaming. We discuss the various forms that non-REM parasomnias can take, how they differ between adults and children and what the potential consequences of them can be.

Find out more about Francesca and her research group here.
Here are links to some of the studies:

• Conscious experiences during non-REM parasomnias
• Shared EEG correlates between non-REM parasomnia experiences and dreams
• Consciousness in non-REM-parasomnia episodes

Host: Professor Penny Lewis
Producer & Editor: Sophie Smith

Check out our NaPS website to find out more about our team, our research and events.

This recording is the property of the Sleep Science Podcast and not for resale.