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Lack of Sleep Slows Brain Activity |
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A sleepy person's brain works harder -- and accomplishes less. A study
using real-time, state-of-the-art imaging shows that sleep deprivation
has dramatic effects on the brain and how well it performs.
Researchers found that while parts of the sleep-deprived brains churned with activity during the test, another part of the brain -- the language center -- shut down.
They also found that the brains of some sleep-deprived study participants tried to overcome the language-center shut-down by shifting activity to another part of the brain. These individuals performed better on the memory test than their sleep-deprived peers, but not as well as they did when rested.
The researchers also found that it is the earliest part of the sleep cycle that most benefits brain recovery. More sleep is not necessarily better. They determined that it would be better to take naps than just one big sleep.
So how much sleep does one need, and how should one get it? Researchers answer: "The amount of sleep we require is what we need to not be sleepy in the daytime".
Source: WebMD
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