Sleep News

Brain energy ''replenished'' during sleep

The brain requires sleep as it needs to restore its energy during times of natural unconsciousness, new research suggests.

Scientists found that during the first stages of sleep, there was a significant rise in cellular energy levels in parts of the brain that function during waking hours.

Published in the latest edition of the journal Neuroscience, the findings also showed that it is difficult to ascertain exactly what biological processes occur during sleep.

The proposals were put forward by Dr Radhika Basheer and D. Robert McCarley, of Boston VA Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School.

Dr Basheer commented: "Our finding bears on one of the perennial conundrums in biology: the function of sleep.

"Somewhat surprisingly, there have been no modern-era studies of brain energy using the most sensitive measurements."

In recent days, spokesperson for the Sleep Council Jessica Alexander said that people should de-stress before bed in order to sleep properly.

Posted by Michael Ewing