Growing evidence supports the idea that the ultimate biofeedback is to reward sensory
pleasure (eg, enhanced visual clarity) in real-time to neural circuits that are associated with …

We examine the novel hypothesis that physical exercise and sleep have synergistic effects
on memory. Exercise can trigger mechanisms that can create an optimal brain state during …

The beneficial effect of sleep on memory consolidation relies on the precise interplay of slow
oscillations and spindles. However, whether these rhythms are orchestrated by an …

We provide evidence that human sleep is a competitive arena in which cognitive domains
vie for limited resources. Using pharmacology and effective connectivity analysis, we …

Recent investigations have implicated the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous
system in higher-order executive functions. These actions are purported to occur through …

In healthy, young individuals, a reduction in cardiovascular output and a shift from
sympathetic to parasympathetic (vagal) dominance is observed from wake into stages of …

Working memory (WM) is an executive function that can improve with training. However, the
precise mechanism for this improvement is not known. Studies have shown greater WM …

Oscillatory activities of the brain and heart show a strong variation across wakefulness and
sleep. Separate lines of research indicate that non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep is …

Pulse rate variability (PRV), derived from Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) or
photoplethysmography, has recently become widely used for sleep state assessment …

The vast majority of sleep disturbances are caused by various types of sleep arousal. To
diagnose sleep disorders and prevent health problems such as cardiovascular disease and …