"Decoding Memory Selection During Sleep"

A study published in Science reveals that the brain has a system for determining which experiences are important enough to be stored in long-term memory. Experiments in mice showed that during waking hours, specific brain activity tags important experiences for long-term memory storage during sleep. The tagging process is unconscious, and relaxation after an experience may increase the likelihood of it being stored permanently. The study suggests that events followed by a pause and electrical bursts in the brain are more likely to be remembered in the long term.