Extra sleep fixes memory problems in flies with Alzheimer’s-like condition
Many studies have linked more sleep to better memory,
but new research in fruit flies at Washington University School of
Medicine in St. Louis demonstrates that extra sleep helps the brain
overcome catastrophic neurological defects that otherwise would block
memory formation.
Unusual comparison nets new sleep loss marker
Paul Shaw, PhD, a researcher at the School of Medicine, has used what he learns in fruit flies to look for markers of sleep loss in humans. But now he has reversed the process in a new paper, taking what he finds in humans back to the flies and identifying a human gene that is more active after sleep deprivation.
Sleep switch found in fruit flies
Rather than count sheep, drink warm milk or listen to soothing music, many insomniacs probably wish for a switch they can flick to put themselves to sleep. Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, including Paul Shaw, PhD, have discovered such a switch in the brains of fruit flies.
Protein keeps sleep-deprived flies ready to learn
A protein that helps the brain develop early in life can fight the mental fuzziness induced by sleep deprivation, according to Paul Shaw, PhD, a researcher at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Starvation keeps sleep-deprived fly brain sharp
As anyone who has ever struggled to keep his or her eyes open after a big meal knows, eating can induce sleepiness. New research in fruit flies suggests that, conversely, being hungry may provide a way to stay awake without feeling groggy or mentally challenged.