Learning and sleep: A network dynamic approach. (360G-Wellcome-098352_Z_12_Z)

Learning disability affects 2-3% of the UK population. People with learning disability (PWLD) cope with many educational and lifestyle problems and improving quality of life for PWLD is a national aim. However, efforts to improve cognitive performance have largely been unsuccessful. This may be due to the broad range of primary pathologies, diverse patterns of comorbidity and the large number of PWLD where primary cause is unknown. It is unlikely, from the above clinical picture, that a sing le primary cause of learning disability exists. However, many causes may well converge on a single core cortical process vital to learning and memory at a higher level - the organisation of the activity of nerve cells in the brain during sleep. Sleep is vital for memory consolidation and many disorders associated with PWLD also associate with disrupted electrical brain activity during sleep. Using an array of computational and experimental models, coupled with direct, detailed observations of br ain electrical activity in PWLD the proposed work aims to uncover the mechanisms underlying consolidation of neuronal substrates of memory. Furthermore we aim to test predictions from this mechanistic work in a clinical setting in an attempt to generate new, evidence-based approaches to minimising cognitive deficit.