Brain transfers memories for long term storage while we rest

London: Our brain remains constantly at work, even if the body is at rest. According to a study, the memories that are formed in one part of the brain are replayed and transferred to another area of the brain for long-term storage, even while our bodies take rest.

"We want to understand how a healthy brain stores and accesses memories as this will give us a window into how conditions such as Alzheimer's disease disrupt the process," said lead researcher, Freyja Olafsdottir, research associate at University College London, in Britain.

Replay of previous experiences during rest is important for memory consolidation, a process whereby the brain stabilises and preserves memories for quick recall in the future. The researchers, in the paper published in Nature Neuroscience, investigated the role of sleep in memory consolidation by simultaneously studying two areas of the brain as the rats rested after activity.