Interesting Sleep Theories

But what is sleep's purpose? Despite this question's obvious nature, scientists don't really agree why we're sleeping. Several theories exist:

• Adaptive Theory

This theory argues that sleep improves the probability of survival of an animal. Those with proper sleeping habits are most likely to survive. For example, nocturnal species have very different sleep habits than diurnal hunters, making them more likely to thrive.

• Energy Conservation Theory

Fast-moving animals with fast metabolism sleep more than those that gradually burn calories, thereby maintaining their sprint energy.

• Restorative Theory

The body recovers itself during sleep, according to this theory. Researchers know that during sleep neurotoxins are neutralized and that cells divide, tissue synthesizes and growth hormones are released during slow wave (or non-REM) sleep. For example, athletes spend more time in slow-wave sleep (stages 3 and 4) than others, and children and young people spend more time in slow-wave sleep than older people.

• Programming-Reprogramming Theory

This theory holds that unimportant information is "erased" and that more permanent memory is locked into important information. Children who acquire information during their lifetime at a rate faster than at any other point, sleep the most. Nevertheless, all sleep may not be sufficient to improve training. Recent research shows that REM sleep can be the main. Babies and children are having more REM sleep than adults, and adults in school and undergoing rigorous academic education are increasing their amount of REM sleep. You are less experienced in creative problem solving if people are deprived of REM sleep.