Brain stimulation can jolt memory

German researchers found that stimulating the brain with mild electric currents while a person sleeps can help improve memory. In the experiment, subjects were asked to memorize a list of words before going to sleep. The researchers then stimulated currents, increasing the brain's ability to go into slow-wave sleep. Intensifying slow-wave sleep improves memory. The researchers found that the subjects improved their memory of the words by 8 percent. They believe that the slow oscillations affect the hippocampus, which plays a vital part in memory. Using brain stimulation could alleviate the memory loss symptoms that Alzheimer's disease patients face.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/05/AR2006110500355.html