Total sleep deprivation impairs the encoding of trace-conditioned memory in the rat

► The role of sleep in consolidation of trace-conditioned memory was investigated. ► Sleep deprived (SD) rats showed impairment in learning of trace-conditioning task. ► SD rats poked significantly less in the dispenser for juice than control groups. ► Also, NSD rats showed positive correlation in head entries but SD rats did not. ► Our study suggests that sleep may help encode trace-conditioned memory.