Sleep is crucial for healthy brain function. Scientists reached that conclusion from a four-year study of mice. Their research delved deep into the physiology of neuronal connections.
What Did the Study Find?
The scientists scanned nearly 7,000 synapses in two distinct areas of mouse brains. Some of the mice were allowed normal sleep cycles, while others were sleep-deprived. The scientists who analyzed the 3-D electron microscopic images did not know which mice got restful sleep and which were kept awake.
By the end of the experiment, the scientists concluded that sleep led to synaptic shrinkage of about 18 percent. The scientists determined that nerve cells grow and expand during wakefulness. When animals sleep, the synapses become smaller. Weak connections are especially prone to this naptime shrinkage. This cycling effect appears to encourage normal neuronal growth and recalibration and enhance learning. This huge undertaking reinforces why sleep is so important for optimal brain function.
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