The need to sleep a whole third of the day every day must be justified by something, right? Scientists have studied sleep for decades and can now explain some of the processes that occur in sleep.
So what does the brain do in sleep?
1. Makes decisions
A study published in the journal Current Biology suggests that the brain is more than capable of making decisions while sleeping. Participants in this study were asked to sort words into two categories at the touch of a button, and were allowed to fall asleep during the tests. However, the experiment continued in sleep - the participants' brains were able to make decisions even after the body fell asleep.
2. Sorts memories
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In sleep, the brain processes new memories, checks connections with old ones, and sorts the memory so that the person does not forget the right moments. According to Dr. Matthew Walker from the University of California, if a person plays the piano after a healthy sleep and sleeps for another eight hours the next night, then what he has learned in the lesson is reproduced by him 20-30% better than when testing knowledge immediately after the end of the class.
3. Creates associations
During sleep, the brain builds associative connections between seemingly unrelated things. This can lead to unusual ideas or a deeper understanding of the world around you. Therefore, sometimes unexpectedly original ideas that arise in the head are not so spontaneous.
4. Get rid of toxins
A series of studies show that during sleep, the brain of mice is cleared of neurodegenerative cells and toxins, an increase in the concentration of which can lead to the development of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
5. Learns physical labor
During REM sleep, new information about the body's motor function is transmitted from the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for motor skills, to the temporal lobe. This helps us to “conceptualize” and perform better physical activity tasks.