The brain pays attention to unfamiliar voices

Image: Temporal aspect of the difference between the triggered K complex and micro-awakening. Left: The difference between UFV and FV in the number of triggered K complexes was significant from 100ms to 800ms. Right: Differences in the number of microawakens between FV and UFV were significant over the 200-400 ms and 500-700 ms periods. look more Credit: Ameen et al. , JNeurosci 2022 Getting a good night's sleep is not as easy as it looks. While snoozing, the brain keeps an eye on the environment, balancing the need to protect sleep with the need to wake up. An example of how the brain achieves this is to selectively respond to unfamiliar voices rather than familiar ones, according to a new study published in. JNeurosci.. Researchers at the University of Salzburg have measured brain activity in sleeping adults in response to familiar or unfamiliar voices. Unfamiliar voices induced more K-complexes, a type of brain wave associated with sensory impairment during sleep, compared to familiar voices. Familiar voices can also induce K-complexes, but only those caused by unfamiliar voices are associated with large-scale changes in brain activity associated with sensory processing. As the night goes on, the brain responds less to unfamiliar voices, making them more familiar, indicating that the brain may still be able to learn during sleep. These results suggest that the K complex allows the brain to enter a "sentinel processing mode". In this mode, the brain stays asleep, but retains its ability to respond to associated stimuli. ### Download the full text PDF. The brain selectively tunes to an unfamiliar voice during sleep Please contact us media@sfn.org Get the full-text PDF and join SfN's Journal Media List. about JNeurosci JNeurosciThe first journal of the Society for Neuroscience was launched in 1981 as a means of communicating the results of the highest quality neuroscience research to growth areas. Today, journals continue to work on cutting-edge neuroscience publishing that has immediate and lasting scientific impact, while addressing the changing publishing needs of authors, which represent the breadth of the field and the diversity of authors. .. About the Neuroscience Society The Society for Neuroscience is the world's largest organization of scientists and physicians dedicated to understanding the brain and nervous system. Founded in 1969, the non-profit organization now has nearly 37,000 members in more than 90 countries and more than 130 branches worldwide. Survey method Experimental study Research target Man Article title The brain selectively tunes to an unfamiliar voice during sleep Article publication date January 17, 2022 Disclaimer: AAAS and Eulek Alert! We are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted on Eurek Alert! To use the information by contributing to the institution or through the Eurek Alert system. Sources 1/ https://Google.com/ 2/ https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/939826 The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article