I know sleep is the correct general answer. I understand our bodies get tired. But exactly HOW does this work? Even when you are sleeping your brain is still working, and studies suggest it’s actually more active, so how does sleeping rest you if your brain is still active?
Also: isn’t it interesting that every creature needs sleep?
In: 99
Neuroscience student here. The mentioned answers about adenosine and altered brain activity are true.
To expand further: toxic metabolite buildup happens all the time during waking hours. During sleep, our brain retracts many dendritic/synaptic connections and washes cerebrospinal fluid through the tissues which reduces beta-amyloid and other protein (think Alzheimer’s) buildup.
Essentially sleep is a period of rejuvenation, detox, and encoding; very essential for all creatures with a „brain.“
I know sleep is the correct general answer. I understand our bodies get tired. But exactly HOW does this work? Even when you are sleeping your brain is still working, and studies suggest it’s actually more active, so how does sleeping rest you if your brain is still active?
Also: isn’t it interesting that every creature needs sleep?
In: 99
Neuroscience student here. The mentioned answers about adenosine and altered brain activity are true.
To expand further: toxic metabolite buildup happens all the time during waking hours. During sleep, our brain retracts many dendritic/synaptic connections and washes cerebrospinal fluid through the tissues which reduces beta-amyloid and other protein (think Alzheimer’s) buildup.
Essentially sleep is a period of rejuvenation, detox, and encoding; very essential for all creatures with a „brain.“
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