Behavioral and Brain Sciences



Short Communication

New perspectives on sleep disturbances and memory in human pathological and psychopharmacological states


Margaret A. Piggott a1 and Elaine K. Perry a1
a1 Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE4 6BE, United Kingdom m.a.piggott@ncl.ac.uk e.k.perry@ncl.ac.uk http://www.ncl.ac.uk/iah

Abstract

Matthew Walker's article has prompted us to consider neuropsychiatric disorders and pharmacological effects associated with sleep alterations, and aspects of memory affected. Not all disorders involving insomnia show memory impairment, and hypersomnias can be associated with memory deficits. The use of cholinergic medication in dementia indicates that consideration of the link between sleep and memory is more than academic.