Apr 15 2009
To Sleep, Perchance to Clear Extra Proteins from Our Synapses
Why do we sleep? I would guess, “for a number of reasons.” As for one specific reason — I don’t have to guess. A fresh article on research into sleep reports:
The researchers — Giorgio Gilestro, Giulio Tononi and Chiara Cirelli, of the Center for Sleep and Consciousness — found that levels of proteins that carry messages in the synapses (or junctions) between neurons drop by 30 to 40 percent during sleep.
From their background knowledge and most recent finding, the authors conclude:
Sleep — by allowing synaptic downscaling — saves energy, space and material, and clears away unnecessary “noise” from the previous day, the researchers believe. The fresh brain is then ready to learn again in the morning.
Ahh . . . Nothing like sipping a cup of coffee in the early morning with your brain clear of excess proteins. The world just sparkles.
