Internal ‘Master Clock’ Could Be in Control of All Our Circadian Rhythms
Scientists studying the pattern of circadian rhythms have found that one central body clock could be controlling several others at the same time. By examining fruit flies – which, like humans, have several circadian clocks affecting the rhythm their daily biological processes – researchers have found evidence of a single ‘master’ clock that leads all other internal clocks related to … Continue reading
Lack of Sleep Linked to Aging, ‘Every One of the Major Diseases’
Geezers sleep less than whippersnappers. Everybody knows that, but scientists aren’t sure why. A new study from University of California, Berkeley, argues that older people need just as much sleep as younger people, but the degeneration of certain brain signals prevents older people from getting the rest they need. The team was led by Matthew Walker, professor of neuroscience and … Continue reading
Lack of Sleep and the Havoc it Wreaks on Your Body
Not sleeping is one of the worst feelings in the world. (My editor says she feels nauseated if she doesn’t get at least 5 hours.) But not sleeping multiple nights in a row can be downright unhealthy. If you are a person who thinks you only need a couple of hours a night, you are fooling yourself and headed for … Continue reading
The Purpose of Sleep? Something Unexpected…
Over the years, scientists have come up with a lot of ideas about why we sleep. Some have argued that it’s a way to save energy. Others have suggested that slumber provides an opportunity to clear away the brain’s cellular waste. Still others have proposed that sleep simply forces animals to lie still, letting them hide from predators. A pair … Continue reading
We Were Wrong About Consciousness Disappearing in Dreamless Sleep, Say Scientists
We’re finally solving the mystery of dreamless sleep. When it comes to dreamlessness, conventional wisdom states that consciousness disappears when we fall into a deep, dreamless sleep. But researchers have come up with a new way to define the different ways that we experience dreamlessness, and say there’s no evidence to suggest that our consciousness ‘switches off’ when we stop … Continue reading
6 Fascinating Facts About Dreams
A new survey suggests men and women may dream differently. There aren’t many things that fascinate, frighten, sadden, intrigue, confuse, or enlighten us more than dreams. While science seems stumped about dreams, artists are inspired, creating countless books, movies, poems, paintings, dances and plays about dreams in an effort to understand more about this mysterious unconscious existence we enter when … Continue reading
