TMR as a therapeutic answer

Sleep medicine is ever evolving, and perhaps a primary source of new discoveries in modern medicine. Targeted memory reactivation, known as TMR is a technique used to explore memory consolidation. Different types of sensory cues are introduced during a learning phase for a certain task before sleep, and later reintroduced during sleep, usually stages N2 or N3. Studies have found that this TMR technique has positive results when compared to control subjects (Rasch et. al. 2019). Many different tasks have been implemented in TMR, in which memory has been strengthened, including learning of Dutch-German vocabulary (Rasch et. al. 2019), emotional memory, creativity, and social cognition. However, findings show that there has not been much progress in terms of memory of motor sequence learning (Schouten et. al. 2017)

Hippocampus-dependent memory is the center of focus in the TMR technique. The hippocampus is also involved in motor sequence learning, indicating that TMR could potentially improve motor skills. Although Rasch’s findings of TMR techniques using odor cues paired with a finger tapping task proved ineffective, a TMR experiment in which a musical training task similar to Guitar Hero was implemented held positive and rather prospective results (Schouten et. al. 2017). In Schouten’s experiments, it was found that TMR cueing the specific melodies used during the trained motor task during the SWS periods of a nap resulted in improved performance in the trained motor task. These findings are prospective of what future discoveries may hold when we take advantage of TMR. Further research in TMR when paired with rehabilitative medicine, such as physical therapy for injured or disabled individuals, could lead to effective results.

Research in TMR, being very new and groundbreaking, is currently focused around the strengthening of a particular skill or quality. With further research in the motor skills enhancement part of TMR, therapeutic research will follow in turn. New methods of physical therapy using TMR can begin to be implemented, leading to more effective and efficient results. This could change the future of not only physical therapy, but lead to positive results in society as a whole. 

Works Cited

Göldi, Maurice, and Björn Rasch. “Effects of Targeted Memory Reactivation during Sleep at Home Depend on Sleep Disturbances and Habituation.” Npj Science of Learning, vol. 4, no. 1, 2019, doi:10.1038/s41539-019-0044-2.

Schouten, Daphne I., et al. “State of the Art on Targeted Memory Reactivation: Sleep Your Way to Enhanced Cognition.” Sleep Medicine Reviews, vol. 32, 2017, pp. 123–131., doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2016.04.002.