Targeted Memory Reactivation via Closed-Loop Auditory Stimulation during sleep: effects on EEG correlates

The electrophysiological hallmarks of non-rapid eye movements (NREM) sleep (slow oscillations, sleep spindles, and sharp-wave ripples), and their temporal coordination, identify this state as a crucial state for memory consolidation during sleep. Recently, researchers have been investigating how to actively manipulate these oscillations through sensory stimulation to modulate and enhance their functional benefits. The aim of this thesis is to explore the effects of auditory stimulation on electrophysiological features. The first chapter will introduce what sleep is, its functions and its architecture, with particular attention to the neurophysiological features of NREM state. The second chapter will explore the relationship between sleep and memory consolidation, focusing on the active consolidation system hypothesis. It will further examine the coupling of specific NREM events involved in memory consolidation, and evaluate recent non-invasive stimulation paradigms developed to modulate this coordination. Finally, the third chapter will describe the study, aimed at testing the effectiveness of a Targeted Memory Reactivation paradigm combined with phase-target Closed-Loop Auditory Stimulation in a domestic environment, with a specific focus on its effects on electrophysiological correlates.