The impact of sleep architecture on offline memory processing
Supervisors
Sana Hannan, Ageing and Neuroscience, Lancaster University
Edwin Robertson, School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Glasgow
Padraic Monaghan, Psychology, Lancaster University
Summary
This PhD studentship explores how sleep architecture influences offline memory processing. Specifically, we are interested in the relationship between the structure of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep on the consolidation of procedural memory, such as motor skill acquisition. This will be investigated by conducting sleep studies – including scalp electroencephalography (EEG), electrooculography (EOG) and electromyography (EMG) – in healthy human participants during daytime naps. Sleep structure will be assessed at both macroand micro-levels, distinguishing between different NREM stages and examining important sleep
oscillations such as sleep spindles and slow waves. These features will be investigated for their associations with performance outcomes in tasks designed to assess procedural memory. Additionally, sleep stability will be manipulated using auditory stimuli to further elucidate its role in memory consolidation.
The studentship will provide multidisciplinary training that encompasses sleep research, neurophysiology and cognitive psychology. The student will gain expertise in data acquisition, sleep scoring, and advanced signal processing of complex data. There will be numerous opportunities for enhancing communication skills, including regular presentations of findings in academic settings and contributions to peer-reviewed publications. This comprehensive training programme will ensure that the student is well-equipped and competitively positioned for diverse career opportunities in both academia and industry.