Animal sleep is presented in various patterns like hibernation, nocturnal activity, and even napping! For example, penguins rarely sleep in case of abrupt attacks of predators. They sleep in standing positions for only a few minutes to provide security. In some occasions, penguins take naps in the ocean after a full meal. In contrast, brown bats spend generally nineteen hours just on sleeping hanging upside down. As these examples demonstrate, the state of sleeping in animals is confirmed based on scientific research. The evidence of animal sleep is obvious, mainly characterized by temporary unconsciousness, non-responsiveness to external stimuli, and passivity in movement. Although animal sleeping is corroborated by these common symptoms, animal dreaming is a controversial issue in the scientific field. Many scholars are opposed to the state of animal dreaming because verbal description lacks and data is limited to those collected through visual means. However,animal dreaming should not be disregarded on account of three scientific elements; particular brain activity, specific stages of sleep, and involuntary body movements.
First of all, the brain activity of sleeping animals is considerably related to humanity. The first similarity is the brain wave patterns during animal sleep. Human sleeping is usually accompanied by weak Alpha waves and strong Theta waves. The electrical activity of the animal brain was measured by an electroencephalogram (EEG) in the early research conducted by Dr. William C. Dement, the founder of the Sleep Research Center. Accordingly, Alpha waves disappeared and Theta waves appeared strongly making a match with human brain waves. Another explanation is the distinctive pattern of neurons which is created ...
... middle of paper ...
...f animal sleep is verified by scientific methods and the comparison of humanity and animals. More academic study of animal sleeping patterns and habits accompanies the potential to benefit brain disorders in humans. Currently, the study of animal dreaming and memory is in progress to reveal the cause of memory impairment. Matthew Wilson, professor of brain sciences at MIT, commented “It could be a valuable tool in treating memory disorders such as amnesia or Alzheimer’s disease, or it may help devise ways for people to learn and memorize more effectively.” The mass potential of animal dreaming research should not be interfered by discredit of the academia. To put it briefly, since animal dreaming is scientifically supported by certain brain activity, stage of REM sleep and non-REM sleep, and subconscious movement, constant attention and research should be continued.
Webb, W. B., & Cartwright, R. D. (1978). Sleep and Dreams. Annual Review of Psychology, 29(1), 223-252. doi:10.1146/annurev.ps.29.020178.001255
Siegel then describes the two different types of sleep as non-REM and REM sleep. During non-REM sleep “the muscles are relaxed but maintain some tone, breathing is regular, the cerebral cortex generates high-voltage waves, and consumption of energy by the brain is minimal” (77). A person experiencing REM sleep, however, has irregular breathing and heart rate, the cerebral cortex generates waves almost like those seen in a waking state, rapid eye movements, high brain metabolism, lack of all muscle tone, and dreams occur. Normally people enter into non-REM sleep immediately upon falling asleep; however, narcoleptics enter into REM sleep first. This causes narcoleptics t...
All mammals exhibit Rapid-Eye-Movement, or REM, sleep, and yet on certain levels this type of sleep would seem to be disadvantageous. During REM sleep, which is when most dreams occur, the brain uses much more energy than during non-REM (NREM) sleep. (1) This "waste" of energy coupled with the increased vulnerability of this state on account of the body's paralysis at this time suggests that there must be a very important reason, or reasons, for the existence of REM sleep and in extension of dreams. Determining the function of dreams, however, has proved very problematic with many arguments which directly oppose each other. Some of the primary functions of dreaming have been tied to is role in development, its production of neuro-proteins, and also to how it may allow for the "rehearsal" of neurons and neuronal pathways. The influence of dreaming on learning is one of the hottest debates. Some argue that dreams aid in learning, others that dreams aid in forgetting, and yet others that dreams have no effect on learning or memory. That REM sleep seems to aid in development might argue that REM sleep may be connected to learning. It seems that most scientists believe that REM sleep aids in certain memory consolidations although some argue that it actually leads to "reverse learning.
We live our entire life in two states, sleep and awake1. These two states are characterized by two distinct behaviors. For instance, the brain demonstrates a well-defined activity during non-REM sleep (nREM) that is different when we are awake. In the study of sleep by Huber et. al., the authors stated that sleep is in fact a global state2. It is unclear whether this statement means that sleep is a state of global behavioural inactivity or the state of the global nervous system. The notion that sleep is a global state of the nervous system served as basis for sleep researchers to search for a sleep switch. The discovery of the sleep switch, in return, provided evidence and enhanced the notion that sleep is a global state of the nervous system. The switch hypothesis developed from the fact that sleep can be initiated without fatigue and it is reversible1. It was hypothesized that there is something in the brain that has the ability to control the whole brain and initiate sleep. Studies have found a good candidate that demonstrated this ability3. They found a group of neurons in the Ventrolateral Preoptic (VLPO) nucleus. It was a good candidate because it was active during sleep, has neuronal output that can influence the wakefulness pathway, and lesion in the area followed reduce sleep3. The idea that there is something that can control the whole brain and result sleep state supports the idea that sleep is a global state of the nervous system.
studying the subject, the origins in the brain responsible for sleep are still not fully understood and thus, facilitate continual probes
Sleep is an extremely interesting phenomenon in which the mind almost completely departs from the usual realm of consciousness. It is distinguished from quiet wakefulness and a decreased ability to react to stimuli where we become less aware of our surroundings. However, it is more easily reversed than being in hibernation or a coma. It is a function that has been extensively researched by many. After all, we would not have evolved a mechanism that forces us to spend one-third of our lives sleeping unless sleep did us some good. What good does it do tough? Over the years, many theories have been proposed as to why we need sleep. The simplest is that it saves energy. An individual’s energy expenditure and demand is reduced during the day, or night, as an animalistic instinct when they are least efficient to search for food. This is also supported by the decrease of body temperature and caloric demand throughout sleep. For example, when NASA sent a robot to mars, it was programmed to shut down at night so exploration would not waste energy. This is like our bodies, as they need time to recuperate and to slow down. In addition, sleep provides an occasion for restorative functions of the brain where the body is allowed sufficient time to repair and rejuvenate itself. For example, animals that are deprived of sleep entirely lose all their immune function and will soon die in a matter of weeks. Other findings have shown that many restorative functions in the body like tissue repair, muscle growth, and growth hormone occur mainly during sleep. When people are deprived of sleep, inhibitory transmitters accumulate in the brain, interfering with attention and learning. People that are well rested will notice when their attention lapses, a...
According to System Consolidation Of Memory During Sleep, there has been a lot of evidence accumulated over the last 20 ye...
Dreaming is an experience that has fascinated scientists and people for years. Although research about dreams has been limited in the past, it has improved tremendously in its field of science. There are tremendous individual variations of dreams when we are sleeping. In addition, cultural practices, sleeping arrangements, and general environmental conditions can influence people’s responsiveness to external stimulation during sleep.
Brain waves are fundamental in that they enable a sleep researcher to understand the process of sleep. The main brain wave considered is referred to as gross brain wave activity which is measured using an electroencephalogram because brain waves vary from one area of the brain to another. There are two types of waves namely beta waves and alpha waves with the former being associated with the state of being wakeful with them having high frequency but low amplitude while alpha waves being associated with not only the state of relaxation but also the state of peacefulness with them being characterized by lower frequency but with increased amplitude. As a result, beta waves are desynchronous while alpha waves are synchronous. Sleep occurs in different stages with these stages exhibiting different forms of alpha and beta waves with stage one and two of sleep being characterized by theta waves while stage three and four of sleep being characterized by delta
Sleep deprivation is a commonplace occurrence in modern culture. Every day there seems to be twice as much work and half as much time to complete it in. This results in either extended periods of wakefulness or a decrease in sleep over an extended period of time. While some people may like to believe that they can train their bodies to not require as much sleep as they once did this belief is false (1). Sleep is needed to regenerate certain parts of the body, especially the brain, so that it may continue to function optimally. After periods of extended wakefulness or reduced sleep neurons may begin to malfunction, visibly effecting a person's behavior. Some organs, such as muscles, are able to regenerate even when a person is not sleeping so long as they are resting. This could involve lying awake but relaxed within a quite environment. Even though cognitive functions might not seem necessary in this scenario the brain, especially the cerebral cortex, is not able to rest but rather remains semi-alert in a state of "quiet readiness" (2). Certain stages of sleep are needed for the regeneration of neurons within the cerebral cortex while other stages of sleep seem to be used for forming new memories and generating new synaptic connections. The effects of sleep deprivation on behavior have been tested with relation to the presence of activity in different sections of the cerebral cortex.
Kales, A. (1972). The evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders : Pharmacological and psychological studies. In M. Chase (ed.)The Sleeping Brain. Los Angeles : Brain Information Service.
Sleep and dreams have defined eras, cultures, and individuals. Sigmund Freud’s interpretation of dreams revolutionized twentieth-century thought. Historical archives record famous short sleepers and notable insomniacs—some accounts reliable, some not. When Benjamin Franklin counseled, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,” he was using sleep habits to symbolize his pragmatism.
Dreams are very complex things. Scientists have a hard time trying to understand why people dream. Although recently, neurosurgery’s precise methods of research and invention of sophisticated electrical appliances, have enabled the scientists to increase their knowledge of the human brain, nervous systems, and the body’s biochemistry (Strachey 20). The invention of the electroencephalograph, otherwise known as an EEG, has made it possible for a trained operator to read the brain’s reactions during wakefulness, rest, and sleep (Schneider). The machine detects and enormously amplifies the very faint electrical impulses produced by the brain; placing electrodes against subjects scalp (Freud). “Professor Nathanial Kleitman of Chicago university, discovered that babies have a sleep rhythm of fifty to sixty minutes after which they are inclined to wake up, although obviously they can’t always”(Freud). As children grow, the body begins to develop the ninety-minute cycle associated with adult sleepers. The pattern of sleep is acquired and controlled by environmental and social conditioning. However, as people grow older the body tends to revert to the naptime habits of babyhood (Freud). Yet, though people more or less choose when to sleep, the basic ninety-minute rhythm remains. It is biological and not controlled by consciousness, rather as a healthy person’s metabolism functions autonomously (Parker 93). “Eugene Aserinsky noticed that after an infant fell asleep it’s eyes moved beneath the closed lids. Also, at intervals during sleep and was the first movement when the baby began to wake”(Freud). Kleitman and Aserinsky decided to investigate whether such a pattern could be found in adult sleepers as well (Freud). By attaching extra electrodes from the EEG machine to areas around volunteer sleeper’s eyes, the two scientists were able to monitor brain impulses and movements, while measuring respiration and body movements (Freud). The scientists concluded that there were two types of eye movement. Slow as found in babies and very fast movements, this could last from a few minutes to over a half an hour (Freud). These rapid eye movements, which are commonly known as REMs appeared to occur at intervals throughout the night (Beare).
Technological advancements such as the electroencephalograph (EEG), that can measure activity of the sleeping brain, have facilitated various theories to explain the necessity of and the purpose of sleep. Sleep studies measure brain waves (EEG), eye movements (EOG), and muscle skeletal activity (EMG) using a polysomnography.
Sleep is a reversible, repetitive, and active behavior which plays different roles. These roles include restoration processes, memory consolidation, learning or growth. As argued out by Curcio, Ferrara and De Gennaro (2006), during sleep, neuro-cognitive, psychological, as well as behavioral processes take place. Many individuals sacrifice their sleep with an aim of carrying out extra activities. However, sleep loss has been found to have various negative effects. Some of these effects include impairment in psychomotor, neurocognitive performances, and sleepiness (Curcio et al., 2006). Results from recent studies have demonstrated that sleep plays an integral role in memory consideration and learning processes (Deregnaucourt et al., 2005 & Curcio et al., 2006). This paper will evaluate journals and other accredited sources of information in an effort to review, analyze, critique and synthesize works of other scholars on how sleep affects learning.