Why Does Our Brain Need Sleep?

We all know that sleep is an important part of our daily routine (and a large part considering you spend about 1/3 of your time doing it) but do you know why?

Making sure that you get enough quality sleep at the right time is as essential to survival as food and water. Sleep is extremely important to a number of brain functions, including how nerve cells (neurons) communicate with each other. In fact, did you know that your brain and body stay remarkably active when you are asleep?

So, what are the effects on the brain when you don't get enough sleep?

If you're not getting an adequate amount of quality sleep, you can’t form or maintain the pathways in your brain that help you learn and create new memories.

When we are sleep deprived, we can’t focus on large amounts of information or sustain our attention for long periods. Our reaction times are slowed and we are also less likely to be creative or discover solutions when trying to solve a problem.

The different stages of sleep also affect different brain functions as well. REM sleep is responsible for emotional memories (fears, for example) or processes such as remembering how to ride a bike. Slow-wave sleep helps store "declarative" memories which are a conscious record of your experiences and what you know (such as what you ate for lunch).

When we are sleeping, experiences of our day are "replayed" in our brains. Replay happens in neurons in the hippocampus, which is a brain region important for memory. This has been studied in rats who are learning to navigate a maze. After a rat has completed a navigation exercise and is resting, its brain replays the path it took through the maze. This helps strengthen the connection between brain cells, which in turn could be important for consolidating memories. 

A lack of sleep is not only seen to prohibit memories from being retained but it's also believed to promote the removal of waste products from or brain cells, more so than when we are awake. 

How much sleep do you need for your brain function to be at its best?

This completely depends on what stage you are at in life, as even someone of the same age as you may need a significantly different amount of sleep. 

Babies initially sleep as much as 16 to 18 hours per day, which may boost growth and development (especially of the brain). School-age children and teens on average need about 9.5 hours of sleep per night. Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a night, but for those over 60, sleep tends to be shorter, lighter and more interrupted than ever before, as members of the older generation are more likely to take medications that interfere with sleep. 

In general, however, people are getting less sleep than they need due to modern-day work hours, working from home and the availability of round-the-clock entertainment and other activities. 

What else happens if I don't get enough sleep?

A chronic lack of sleep, or getting poor quality sleep, can increase the risk of disorders including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and obesity.

Chronic sleep disturbances have also been linked to brain disorders such as schizophrenia, autism and Alzheimer’s - though we aren't sure if these sleep disturbances are a cause or symptom of these disorders.

As we all know, having a healthy sleep pattern is key to having a healthy and well-functioning brain.

If you're looking for help with your sleep, I offer a free, no-obligation consultation call where we talk about the issues you are facing and how I am able to help with them. Book yours here.