Björn Rasch

The formation of long-term memories requires a process of consolidation, which is facilitated by sleep. I am interested in the mechanisms that underlie this facilitation, particularly with regard to neurotransmitters: The levels of acetylcholine, serotonin and noradrenalin differ between sleep and wake and also between sleep stages. While we have recently shown that low levels of acetylcholine naturally occurring during slow wave sleep are critical for declarative memory consolidation, we are now investigating the importance of low noradrenalin and serotonin levels during REM sleep for procedural memory consolidation.

Another aspect of my research deals with the reactivation of memories, which has been proposed to underlie memory formation during slow wave sleep. I am examining whether the reactivation process can be influenced by external “recall cues” presented during this sleep stage. Because odours are known to be highly effective recall cues, we are currently administering learning-associated odours to sleeping subjects to externally enhance sleep-related declarative memory consolidation.

Articles

Rasch, B., Dodt, C., Mölle, M., & Born, J. (2007). Sleep-stage-specific regulation of plasma catecholamine concentration. Psychoneuroendocrinology.

Perras, B., Berkemeier, E., Rasch, B., Fehm, H. L., & Born, J. (2007). PreproTRH((158-183)) fails to affect pituitary-adrenal response to CRH/vasopressin in man: A pilot study. Neuropeptides, 41, 233-238.

Rasch, B., Büchel, C., Gais, S., & Born, J. (2007). Odor cues during slow-wave sleep prompt declarative memory consolidation. Science, 315, 1426-1429.

Krug, R., Born, J., & Rasch, B. (2006). A 3-day estrogen treatment improves prefrontal cortex-dependent cognitive function in postmenopausal women. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 31, 965-975.

Rasch, B. H., Born, J., & Gais, S. (2006). Combined blockade of cholinergic receptors shifts the brain from stimulus encoding to memory consolidation. J.Cogn Neurosci., 18, 793-802.

Wagner, U., Hallschmid, M., Rasch, B., & Born, J. (2006). Brief sleep after learning keeps emotional memories alive for years. Biol.Psychiatry, 60, 788-790.

Levinson, S. C., Kita, S., Haun, D. B., & Rasch, B. H. (2002). Returning the tables: language affects spatial reasoning. Cognition, 84, 155-188.

 

Further Contributions

Born, J., Rasch, B., & Gais, S. (2006). Sleep to remember. Neuroscientist, 12, 410-424.
 

Books

Rasch, B., Friese, M., Hofmann, W.J. & Naumann, E. (2006): Quantitative Methoden, Band I, 2. Auflage. Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.

Rasch, B., Friese, M., Hofmann, W.J. & Naumann, E. (2006): Quantitative Methoden, Band II, 2. Auflage.  Heidelberg: Springer Verlag. 

Siehe auch: http://www.quantitative-methoden.de/

Chapters

Wender, K.F., Haun, D.B.M., Rasch, B.H. & Bluemke M. (2002) Context effects in Memory for Routes. In Freksa C (Ed.), Spatial Cognition III.

Born, J. & Rasch, B. (2005). Psychologie des Schlafs. In: Schulz, H. (Ed.), Kompendium für Schlafmedizin (Kap. II, 9.1 - 9.3). Landsberg/Lech : ecomed.
 

Diploma thesis
Rasch, B. (2003) Emotion and attention. An fMRI-study. University of Trier