Scientists have learned about the role of dopamine neurons during sleep

Dopamine neurons, which are responsible for reward and motivation in the brain, are active even during sleep. A new study from the University of Michigan has shown that dopamine neurons are activated during the slow phase of sleep immediately after a person learns new skills. This was reported on December 8 by Medical Xpress magazine.

The results of the study are said to cast doubt on well-established assumptions about the role of dopamine in the brain. The analysis shows that these neurons not only contribute to learning during the day, but also actively help consolidate new skills during sleep.

"Since changes in dopamine signaling are associated with neurodegenerative diseases, which are also characterized by motor and sleep disorders, understanding these connections may pave the way for better therapies and advances in healthcare," said Ada Eban—Rothschild, a co-author of the study and professor of psychology at the University of Michigan.

The study focused on certain dopamine neurons in the midbrain that become active after learning, but only during the slow-wave sleep phase. It is emphasized that this burst of activity helps the brain refine and enhance newly learned movements, improving the accuracy of motor skills after waking up.

Scientists claim that these discoveries open up new horizons for improving brain health. Understanding how dopamine helps to consolidate motor memory during sleep may further help in the development of therapeutic methods that will affect both sleep and dopamine pathways, offering new opportunities to improve motor function and quality of life in people suffering from these diseases.

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Earlier, on October 27, neuropsychologist Irina Akopova talked about ways to develop positive habits in the body. According to her, dopamine neural pathways help to form positive habits within 45 days. The specialist emphasized that dopamine affects the perception of success and failure, and its increase is associated with a sense of joy and satisfaction.

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