Fine-Tuning the Methodology of Sleep and Memory Research From a Human Behavioral Perspective

Dezso Nemeth; Emilie Gerbier; Jan Born; Timothy Rickard; Genevieve Albouy; Susanne Diekelman; Stuart Fogel; Lisa Genzel; Alexander Prehn-Kristensen; Jessica Payne; Martin Dresler; Peter Simor; Stephanie Mazza; Kerstin Hoedlmoser; Perrine Ruby; Rebecca Spencer; Manuel Schabus; Karolina Janacsek

doi:10.20944/preprints201908.0208.v3

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preprints.org > social sciences > cognitive science > doi: 10.20944/preprints201908.0208.v3

Preprint Article Version 3 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Fine-Tuning the Methodology of Sleep and Memory Research From a Human Behavioral Perspective

^* ,

Alexander Prehn-Kristensen

Version 1 : Received: 19 August 2019 / Approved: 20 August 2019 / Online: 20 August 2019 (09:50:03 CEST)
Version 2 : Received: 13 December 2021 / Approved: 14 December 2021 / Online: 14 December 2021 (10:40:37 CET)
Version 3 : Received: 12 January 2023 / Approved: 13 January 2023 / Online: 13 January 2023 (10:52:30 CET)
Version 4 : Received: 26 June 2023 / Approved: 26 June 2023 / Online: 26 June 2023 (10:56:59 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Németh, D.; Gerbier, E.; Born, J.; Rickard, T.; Diekelmann, S.; Fogel, S.; Genzel, L.; Prehn-Kristensen, A.; Payne, J.; Dresler, M.; et al. Optimizing the Methodology of Human Sleep and Memory Research. Nature Reviews Psychology 2023, doi:10.1038/s44159-023-00262-0. Németh, D.; Gerbier, E.; Born, J.; Rickard, T.; Diekelmann, S.; Fogel, S.; Genzel, L.; Prehn-Kristensen, A.; Payne, J.; Dresler, M.; et al. Optimizing the Methodology of Human Sleep and Memory Research. Nature Reviews Psychology 2023, doi:10.1038/s44159-023-00262-0.

Abstract

Understanding the complex relationship between sleep and memory is a major challenge in neuroscience. Many studies on memory consolidation in humans suggest that sleep triggers offline memory processes, resulting in less forgetting of declarative memory and performance stabilization in non-declarative memory. However, an increasing number of contradictory findings reveal potential issues with how research is conducted in this field and call into question the reliability and interpretation of the results. All scientific disciplines face similar challenges. In this regard, research on the relationship between sleep and memory is still very fortunate. Yet, there is a constant need to fine-tune the methodology. In this article, we describe four behavioral methodological issues in human sleep and memory research that should be improved: non-optimal experimental designs, task complexity, fatigue effects in repetitive tasks, and inappropriate data analysis practices. We then offer solutions to each of these issues. We believe that implementing these solutions in future sleep and memory research will lead to more reliable results and significantly advance our understanding in this field.

Keywords

sleep; memory; consolidation; napping; fatigue

Subject

Social Sciences, Cognitive Science

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Comments (1)

Comment 1

Received: 13 January 2023
Commenter: Dezso Nemeth
Commenter's Conflict of Interests: Author

Comment: Updated title, manuscript and references

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