TMS and Working Memory

Columbia University Medical Center has used conventional transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to reduce the deficits in working memory associated with sleep deprivation. Working memory is the brain's ability to temporarily store and manipulate information. Going without sleep usually causes a decrease in a person's working memory among along with a reduction in other brain functions. This story is a couple months old, but you can watch an interesting new short video below about the use of TMS to improve this aspect of intelligence. The military is currently funding this research in order to create a new method to increase a soldier's performance on the battlefield. In the future this could potentially be used for enhancement type purposes among normal people. Imagine sleeping less without having any of the associated cognitive deficits. It seems like this might be a possibility with the use of TMS or transcranial direct current stimulation targeted to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. In the recent past, TMS has also been used to artificially induce deep sleep. The TMS was able to trigger slow brain waves that contribute to the restorative and beneficial aspect of deep sleep. This technology may allow people to squeeze more out of the hours that they do sleep.

What would life be like if you only needed four or less hours of sleep a day? Are we headed towards a future where people hardly need any sleep at all? I'd imagine a certain percentage of the population wouldn't mind being able to do this. You would have more spare time or more time to work and make money if you were so inclined. I'm sure the Pentagon is drooling over technology that could create a sleepless soldier. I think transcranial magnetic stimulation certainly has the potential to reduce a person's need for sleep. Personally, I'm not sure if I am ready to say goodbye to sleep just yet.