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Dolphins maintain round-the-clock visual vigilance

Researchers tested two dolphins' cognitive performance after 5 days of continuous auditory vigilance, finding no signs of sleep deprivation. The dolphins remained alert and responsive to both sound and visual stimuli throughout the 120-hour experiment, with their blood showing no physical signs of fatigue.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateMay 1, 2009

Sleep may help clear the brain for new learning

Researchers found that sleep decreases the number of new synapses formed during social enrichment, while deprivation of sleep eliminates this decrease. The study identified three genes essential to links between learning and increased need for sleep, offering a promising avenue for studying plasticity.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalScience·DateApr 2, 2009

Exploring the function of sleep

A study published in PLOS Biology suggests that sleep is crucial for brain function, allowing the brain to regroup after a hard day of learning. The research proposes that sleep enables the brain to consolidate new memories and 'forget' random impressions, making it essential for continued learning.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 25, 2008

Brain tweak lets sleep-deprived flies stay sharp

Researchers found that genetically tweaking a part of the brain involved in learning and memory in fruit flies allowed them to stay sharp even after being deprived of sleep. This discovery may lead to new treatments for mental acuity, particularly for people who need to stay awake for extended periods.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 31, 2008

Lack of sleep can provoke sleepwalking

Researchers from Université de Montréal found that sleep deprivation can trigger sleepwalking in predisposed individuals. The study, published in Annals of Neurology, showed that sleepwalkers who experienced one night of sleep followed by one night of wakefulness had a significant increase in behavioral episodes.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateApr 2, 2008

Sleep deprivation used to diagnose sleepwalking

A new study found that sleep deprivation can precipitate sleepwalking in predisposed individuals and may serve as a valuable tool in diagnosing the disorder. The study showed that sleep deprivation significantly increased the proportion of sleepwalkers experiencing complex episodes, facilitating diagnosis.

SourceWiley·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateMar 19, 2008

'Power napping' in pigeons

Researchers found that pigeons increase slow-wave sleep to recover from sleep loss, mirroring human brain function. This discovery sheds light on the role of sleep in animals and may provide insights into human sleep patterns.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalJournal of Sleep Research·DateMar 3, 2008

Brain region that can be stimulated to reduce the cognitive deficits of sleep deprivation identified

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have discovered a brain region that can be stimulated to reduce cognitive deficits associated with sleep deprivation. The study used repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to improve working memory performance in young adults after extended sleep deprivation.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalCerebral Cortex·DateFeb 1, 2008

Kaiser Permanente/Harvard Medical School study links lack of sleep to weight gain for new moms

A study by Kaiser Permanente and Harvard Medical School found that new mothers who slept five hours or less per day had a threefold higher risk for substantial weight retention (11 pounds or more) at their baby’s first birthday. Getting enough sleep, even just two hours more, may be as important as a healthy diet and exercise for new m...

SourceEdelman Public Relations, New York·JournalAmerican Journal of Epidemiology·DateNov 19, 2007

Feeling sleepy is all in your genes

Research published in BMC Neuroscience found that genetic genes controlling the body clock also regulate the need for sleep, linking sleep to energy metabolism. The study used mice with different genetic make-ups to explore this connection, revealing changes in gene expression associated with sleep deprivation and recovery.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Neuroscience·DateOct 17, 2007

Chronically sleep deprived? You can't make up for lost sleep

A recent study by Northwestern University researchers found that animals who are partially sleep deprived over consecutive days no longer attempt to catch up on sleep, despite an accumulating sleep deficit. This suggests that chronic partial sleep loss negatively affects the body's ability to compensate for lost sleep.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 2, 2007

Feeling tired? You may be less likely to get hurt, MU researcher says

A recent study by University of Missouri-Columbia professor Daniel Vinson found that patients who reported feeling sleepy were less likely to be injured. This contradicts the commonly accepted theory that sleep deprivation increases injury risk, suggesting a possible link between daytime sleepiness and reduced physical activity.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalThe Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine·DateJan 4, 2007

First biomarker for human sleepiness identified in fruit flies

Researchers have identified amylase, an enzyme in saliva, as a biochemical marker linked to sleep loss. Flies subjected to prolonged sleep deprivation showed increased amylase levels, similar to humans who were kept awake for extended periods. The discovery aims to develop diagnostic tools and improve understanding of sleep disorders.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 11, 2006