#Nonrem

A recent breakthrough study has discovered that the eyes, far from being mere passive players during sleep, actively orchestrate how our brains consolidate memories—guarding old knowledge while seamlessly incorporating new information. These findings, published by a Cornell University research team and highlighted in The Brighter Side of News on April 21, 2025, suggest that subtle changes in the pupil during sleep play a pivotal role in preventing memory “mix-ups” and could one day revolutionize how we learn, remember, and perhaps even treat memory disorders (The Brighter Side of News).

A groundbreaking study shows that eyes do more than respond to light in sleep. Subtle pupil movements appear to help the brain balance safeguarding established memories with encoding fresh ones. The findings, from a Cornell University team and highlighted by The Brighter Side of News in late April 2025, point to a potential shift in how we learn, remember, and treat memory disorders. In humans, tiny pupil shifts during sleep may prevent memory “mix-ups” and support clearer long-term learning.