Noradrenaline's Role in Nightly Brain Activity and Memory

Author: University of Copenhagen
Published: 2022/07/14 - Updated: 2025/05/24
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed, Research, Study, Analysis
Category Topic: Sleep Disorders - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This research, published in a peer-reviewed journal by the University of Copenhagen, reveals that the neurotransmitter noradrenaline causes the brain to briefly wake over 100 times each night - even during what is considered normal, healthy sleep. These micro-awakenings, which are too brief for most people to notice, play a vital role in memory consolidation and overall sleep quality, as the oscillating waves of noradrenaline help reset the brain and enhance memory retention.

The study, conducted on mice but likely applicable to humans due to shared biological mechanisms, found that the deepest sleep valleys of noradrenaline activity correlated with better memory performance, suggesting that frequent, brief awakenings may actually indicate restorative sleep.

This information is particularly useful for seniors, people with disabilities, and anyone concerned about disrupted sleep, as it challenges the common belief that uninterrupted sleep is always best and provides reassurance that occasional night waking are not necessarily harmful. The findings also have implications for those taking certain antidepressants, as medications that alter noradrenaline levels could inadvertently affect sleep quality and memory, highlighting the need for careful medication management in vulnerable populations - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

You may think that a good night's sleep should be uninterrupted. But in fact, the neurotransmitter noradrenaline causes you to wake up more than 100 times a night, new research from the University of Copenhagen concludes. It is perfectly normal.

Main Content

You wake up. The alarm clock says 02:56.

"Oh no, it is not time to wake up yet," you think, fearing that you will need lots of coffee to stay awake the following day.

Most people believe that a good night's sleep should be uninterrupted. That is why it can be extremely annoying to wake up in the middle of the night when all you want to do is sleep.

New research from the University of Copenhagen shows that the stress transmitter noradrenaline causes you to wake up many times a night. But do not worry. It is all part of a normal, good night's sleep and can even mean that you have slept well.

Noradrenaline

Noradrenaline is a stress hormone and transmitter substance, which, i.a., is associated with the body's fight or flight response. It is related to adrenaline, and levels may increase during stress, but it also helps you stay focused.

"You may think that sleep is a constant state that you are in, and then you wake up. But there is a lot more to sleep than meets the eye. We have learned that noradrenaline causes you to wake up more than 100 times a night. And that is during perfectly normal sleep," says Assistant Professor Celia Kjærby from the Center for Translational Neuromedicine, one of the study's first authors.

Even though noradrenaline technically causes the brain to wake up more than 100 times a night, we do not think of it as waking up.

"Neurologically, you do wake up because your brain activity during these very brief moments is the same as when you are awake. But the moment is so brief that the sleeper will not notice," explains Ph.D. student Mie Andersen, who is the second first author of the study.

Even though the researchers have studied mice, their findings can, in all probability, be translated to humans because they have focussed on basic biological mechanisms -- that is, mechanisms shared by all mammals.

Stress Transmitter Noradrenaline Affects the Sleep Waves

Professor Maiken Nedergaard, who has led the study, sees the new finding as an important piece of the puzzle to understanding what happens in the brain when we sleep.

"We have found the essence of the part of sleep that makes us wake up rested and which enables us to remember what we learned the day before. We have found that waves of noradrenaline drive the vital part of sleep. The very rude awakenings are created by waves of norepinephrine, which are also so important for memory," says Maiken Nedergaard and adds, "You could say that the short awakenings reset the brain so that it is ready to store memory when you dive back into sleep."

What the Researchers Did

Microscopic optical fibers made of glass and genetically manipulated 'light receptors' were inserted into the brains of the test mice. The optical fibers were attached to cables, including an LED light source.

Subsequently, the researchers measured the here-and-now levels of noradrenaline while the animals slept and compared it to the electrical activity in their brains. This was where they spotted the high levels of noradrenaline.

The researchers then conducted memory tests using the implanted equipment to increase the amplitude of the noradrenaline waves, improving the animals' memory.

Previous research has suggested that noradrenaline, associated with stress, is inactive during sleep. Therefore, the researchers were surprised to see how active noradrenaline is during sleep.

The new study shows that when we sleep, the level of noradrenaline in the body is constantly increasing and decreasing in a wavelike pattern. High noradrenaline levels mean that the brain is briefly awake, while low levels of noradrenaline mean that you are asleep. Your noradrenaline levels and degree of 'awakeness' are connected and constantly changing.

"Approximately 30 seconds pass from one 'top' to the next, which means that your noradrenaline levels are constantly changing. At the same time, we could tell that the deeper the 'valley,' i.e., the better the sleep, the higher the subsequent top, and the higher degree of awakening," says Mie Andersen.

"This shows that perhaps you do not need worry if you wake up at night. Of course, it is not good to be sleepless for extended periods, but our study suggests that short-term awakenings are a natural part of memory-related sleep phases. It may even mean that you have slept well," Celia Kjærby adds.

The Mice Developed Super Memory

It is a well-known fact that sleep is good for us - in several ways. It removes waste products, prevents Alzheimer's, and improves our memory.

The latter was also a focus in this study, and the findings suggest that the mice with the highest number of deep noradrenaline valleys had the best memory.

"The mice developed 'super memory'. They had less trouble remembering things they had learned the previous day. Of course, this suggests that the noradrenaline dynamic strengthens the sleep processes which affect our memory," says Celia Kjærby.

First, the mice were allowed to sniff at two identical objects. They were then put to sleep, and once awake; they were returned to the objects. However, one of the two objects had now been replaced by a new one. The mice who had seen the highest number of noradrenaline valleys were more inclined to study the new object, which suggests that they remembered having seen a different object last time.

New perspectives on Use of Noradrenaline in Antidepressants

Besides increasing our knowledge of the engine room of sleep, the new study provides food for thought when it comes to antidepressants.

"Some forms of antidepressants increase the level of noradrenaline in the body, which increases the risk that you will see fewer deep sleep valleys. Our study shows that this is likely to affect your memory," Celia Kjærby says, "That is why we need to focus attention on how different types of medication regulate the level of noradrenaline in the body affect our sleep. In the future, we should seek to develop drugs that do not affect the noradrenaline waves during sleep."

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by University of Copenhagen and published on 2022/07/14, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.