Clues to the functions of mammalian sleep

The functions of mammalian sleep remain unclear. Most theories suggest a role for non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in energy conservation and in nervous system recuperation. Theories of REM sleep have suggested a role for this state in periodic brain activation during sleep, in localized recupera...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature 2005-10, Vol.437 (7063), p.1264-1271
Main Author: Siegel, Jerome M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Aquatic environment
Biological and medical sciences
Body size
Brain
Energy conservation
Energy Metabolism - physiology
Eye movements
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humanities and Social Sciences
Humans
Mammals
Mammals - physiology
multidisciplinary
Neurology
Neurons - physiology
review-article
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Sleep - physiology
Sleep deprivation
Sleep Deprivation - physiopathology
Sleep, REM - physiology
Sleep. Vigilance
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
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Summary:The functions of mammalian sleep remain unclear. Most theories suggest a role for non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in energy conservation and in nervous system recuperation. Theories of REM sleep have suggested a role for this state in periodic brain activation during sleep, in localized recuperative processes and in emotional regulation. Across mammals, the amount and nature of sleep are correlated with age, body size and ecological variables, such as whether the animals live in a terrestrial or an aquatic environment, their diet and the safety of their sleeping site. Sleep may be an efficient time for the completion of a number of functions, but variations in sleep expression indicate that these functions may differ across species.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/nature04285