Memory Article

The memory related article I found is titled "Drugs May Save Memory of the Sleep-Deprived." This article states that lack of sleep makes it harder for the brain to memorize newly learned information. The article also states that scientists may have found a way to work around this problem. The scientists set up an experiment where they used electrical shocks to train mice not to move to certain cages, then deprived them of sleep for 5 hours. The results showed the mice were worse at remembering not to move. Researchers found that when deprived of sleep, the mice made more of the enzyme PDE4, and that caused a shortage of cAMP, which helps the brain form new memories. The researchers then got some more mice and injected half with an experimental drug that blocks PDE4 and half with placebo shots. The mice got shots after being trained, but before being sleep deprived. The sleep deprived mice who had gotten the drug passed the memory test. Researchers say that the study shows that it may be possible to make drugs that target PDE4.

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/news/20091021/cant-sleep-drugs-may-save-memory