Sleep spindles and learning potential.
Abstract
The number of sleep spindles remains relatively stable within individuals from night to night. However, there is little explanation for the large interindividual differences in spindles. The authors investigated the relationship between spindles and intelligence quotient (IQ) in 3 separate studies. The number of spindles and sigma power were positively correlated with performance IQ (PIQ), but not verbal IQ (VIQ). The perceptual/analytical skills measured by the PIQ Picture Completion subscale accounted for most of the interindividual differences in spindles. Furthermore, there was a relationship between the rapid eye movements (REMs) of REM sleep and VIQ in individuals with higher IQ scores. A similar pattern was observed between spindles and PIQ. It was hypothesized that high-IQ individuals have more spindles that can support more complex cortical networks underlying perceptual/analytical abilities.
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In children and adults, spindle number and density strongly correlate with IQ scores and overnight retention of memories.
“In children and adults, spindle number and density strongly correlate with IQ scores (106, 395, 439, 847, 1038, 1039) as well as overnight retention of memories (213, 1057, 1230).”
From About Sleep's Role in Memory (2013) · cites this paper as [395]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Fogel, S. M., Nader, R., Cote, K. A., & Smith, C. T.
- Affiliations
- Trent University (CA)
- Venue
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Published
- 2007
- Volume
- 121
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-10
- ISSN
- 0735-7044 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-0084
- OpenAlex
- W2009114889
- Cited by
- 188
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 4.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behavioral Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Keywords
- sleep spindles, intelligence quotient, performance IQ, verbal IQ, sigma power, REM sleep, rapid eye movements, individual differences, learning potential, cortical networks
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Electroencephalography, Female, Humans, Intelligence, Intelligence Tests, Learning, Neuropsychological Tests, Sleep Stages, Verbal Learning, Polysomnography
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