Miya Pearson
Sleep is a necessity for survival, but scientists have been unable to determine exactly why we need it. Theories include that sleep helps us to be rested and active during the day, that it helps to shape and organise the brain, and that it is necessary for memory formation. Without sleep, we would be unable to form new memories and would be a cranky, sick mess.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Repair cells | Sleep is necessary for repairing cells |
| Store memories | Sleep helps the brain to store memories |
| Balance emotions | Sleep helps to balance emotions |
| Solve complex problems | Sleep helps us to solve complex problems |
| Shape and organise the brain | Sleep helps to shape and organise the brain |
| Learn | Sleep helps us to learn |
| Rest | Sleep allows us to be rested and active during the day |
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What You'll Learn
Sleep helps us to be rested and active during the day
During sleep, our brains are able to repair cells, store memories, and balance emotions. Sleep also helps us to solve complex problems. If we don't get enough sleep, our brains can't make new memories. We know that sleep is especially important for young, developing brains. Infants spend much of their time in deep REM sleep, which is when the most dreaming occurs and when trillions of new connections are formed within the first year of life.
Sleep is also important for our physical health. It helps us to be active during the day, when we can forage for food. We can see berries much better in the sunlight than in the darkness.
Despite the importance of sleep, hustle culture tells us that sleep is for the lazy. CEOs such as Apple's Tim Cook and Robinhood's Vlad Tenev tout their limited sleep schedules, and Gordon Ramsay attributes his success to long workdays and little sleep. However, it's clear that sleep is necessary for our health and well-being.
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Sleep helps us to repair cells
Sleep is also important for our brains. Without it, our brains cannot make new memories. Sleep helps to shape and organise the brain, which helps us to learn and remember things. This is especially important for young, developing brains. For example, infants sleep for 13 to 14 hours a day, much of which is spent in deep REM sleep. This is the stage when the most dreaming occurs, and it is crucial for the trillions of new connections formed within the first year of life.
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Sleep helps us to store memories
Sleep is also thought to help shape and organise the brain, which eventually helps us learn and remember things. We don't fully understand this phenomenon, called brain plasticity, but we know that it's important for a developing young brain. For instance, infants snooze for 13 to 14 hours per day, much of that time spent in deep REM sleep. This is the stage when the most dreaming occurs and is crucial for the trillions of new connections formed within the first year of life.
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Sleep helps us to balance emotions
Sleep helps us to balance our emotions. While scientists have been formally studying sleep since the early 1900s, they still have no idea why we need to sleep. However, we do know that without it, we would be a cranky, sick mess. Sleep is the great unifier: everyone needs it to repair cells, store memories, and balance emotions.
A lack of sleep will prevent your brain from being able to make new memories. Sleep helps shape and organise the brain, which helps us learn and remember things. For instance, infants snooze for 13 to 14 hours per day, much of which is spent in deep REM sleep, which is crucial for the trillions of new connections formed within the first year of life.
Sleep also helps us solve complex problems. Ever need to just "sleep on it"? Hustle culture tells us sleep is for the lazy, but this is not true. Getting enough sleep is necessary for survival.
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Sleep helps us to solve complex problems
Sleep is the time when the brain forms new connections, which is crucial for a developing young brain. For example, infants spend much of their time in deep REM sleep, the stage when the most dreaming occurs. This is when the brain makes trillions of new connections within the first year of life.
Sleep also helps us to store memories. A lack of sleep will prevent your brain from being able to make new memories, so it's almost as though without sleep the memory inbox of the brain shuts down and you can't commit new experiences to memory.
So, if you're ever faced with a complex problem, it might be a good idea to "sleep on it".
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Frequently asked questions
Scientists have been studying sleep since the early 1900s, but we still don't know for sure why we need it. One theory is that sleep helps shape and organise the brain, which helps us learn and remember things.
A lack of sleep will prevent your brain from being able to make new memories. You might feel like an amnesiac, unable to commit new experiences to memory.
This varies depending on age. Infants, for example, snooze for 13 to 14 hours per day, much of which is spent in deep REM sleep.
Without sleep, we'd all be a cranky, sick mess. Sleep is the great unifier: everyone needs it to repair cells, store memories, and balance emotions.
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