Slow oscillations in the brain occur during slow-wave sleep and are associated with memory. The sound stimulations can also help a person sleep better.

 

"The beauty lies in the simplicity to apply auditory stimulation at low intensities-an approach that is both practical and ethical, if compared for example with electrical stimulation-and therefore portrays a straightforward tool for clinical settings to enhance sleep rhythms," said Dr. Jan Born, of the University of Tübingen, in Germany, co-author of the study.

 

The study included 11 participants who were exposed to sound simulations or placebo simulations during sleep on different nights. Before the participants went to sleep, they were asked to memorize word association.

Researchers found that when participants were exposed to sounds that synchronized with the brain's slow oscillation rhythm, they were better at remembering the word association than when they were exposed to sounds that weren't in sync.