Sleep and wakefulness have been traditionally regarded as two mutually exclusive, though interacting, states affecting the whole brain. However, a growing body of evidence indicates that sleep- and wake-like brain activity patterns may often coexist during behavioral wakefulness or sleep. Indeed, the occurrence of local, sleep-like episodes during wakefulness has been suggested to explain performance deterioration related to protracted task practice and sleep deprivation. Moreover, local changes in sleep- and wake-like activity may underlie changes in subjective experience leading to mind wandering or mind blanking during wakefulness or to the emergence of dreams during sleep. This webinar will discuss recent research, challenges, and potential clinical implications regarding the local regulation of sleep and wakefulness in humans.

 

This webinar is presented by Dr. Giulio Bernardi who is Associate Professor in General Psychology at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Italy. He obtained a PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Pisa and worked in research centers in the United States and Switzerland. His current research activity focuses on the study of the reciprocal interactions between wakefulness and sleep, investigating in particular how sleep is influenced and, in turn, influences cognitive efficiency, learning, memory, and emotional regulation. In 2020 he obtained an ERC Starting Grant for a project aimed at exploring new methods for the non-invasive modulation of sleep and dreams.

 

Register here free of charge. We look forward to welcoming you to this webinar!