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Poor sleep causes "false" memories in the brain
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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In the United States, scientists conducted an interesting medical study. As it turned out, sleep deficiency (regardless of the reasons) leads not only to problems with memory, but also with recollections. Scientists have determined that as a result of insomnia, fictitious memories appear, i.e. the brain invents events that did not actually happen, in addition, a person becomes absent-minded, forgetful.
This work was carried out by employees of one of the universities in the state of Michigan.
The experts conducted an experiment in which the participants had to stay awake for 24 hours or sleep less than five hours. During the study, the volunteers viewed a series of pictures depicting a robbery. As a result, the scientists determined that even the participants in the group that slept less than 5 hours made mistakes in describing the details of the crimes depicted in the photos. At the same time, the well-rested participants showed good results.
As experts note, one sleepless night cannot lead to serious consequences, but regular sleep deficit intensifies negative processes in memory. People who spend several nights in a row without adequate rest may subsequently face various memory disorders.
In modern living conditions, people attach less and less importance to the number of hours of sleep, and the 7-8 hours of sleep necessary for the body is an “unrealizable dream” for most people.
However, many doctors claim that regular lack of sleep can threaten the development of many diseases: Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, hypertension, not to mention the death of brain cells. The latest research in this area shows that systematic lack of sleep can even provoke cancer.
At Harvard, researchers found that low levels of melatonin (a hormone produced by the body during sleep) increase the risk of prostate cancer in men. Another research project found that sleep deprivation (less than 6 hours) increases the risk of aggressive breast cancer in women after menstruation has stopped.
Insufficient night rest in childhood and adolescence can also lead to health problems. Children may develop obesity, and the likelihood of depression and hypertension increases.
In addition, scientists warn that a sedentary lifestyle combined with overeating and poor night's rest increases the risk of developing diabetes. In middle age, this threatens problems with blood pressure, as scientists noted, a lack of one hour of sleep over five years increases the risk of developing hypertension by almost 40%.
Experts noted that this discovery is of great importance for criminal investigators, since a witness who has not slept well due to stress (or for other reasons) may make a mistake when giving testimony or identifying a criminal. The study is also important for ordinary people, since people often quarrel because their partner does not remember an event or remembers something completely different (“false” memory). In this case, scientists recommend paying more attention to your significant other, since poor memory may simply be due to lack of sleep.