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If you're too tired to think straight, it might be because parts of your brain are already asleep at the wheel. A team of neuroscientists from Washington State University is challenging the belief that a specific region of the brain makes the call to hit the sack. Instead, our brains power down in stages, the researchers say. If a certain group of cells in our brain gets fatigued, it simply shuts off. Surrounding areas respond in kind and also begin to doze. Once a critical mass of gray matter reaches this point, our brain calls it a day. The research will appear in the December issue of the journal Nature Reviews Neuroscience.
According to the paper, a centralized sleep command center can't account for behaviors like sleepwalking and "sleep inertia," or the sluggishness we feel when we first wake up. In those cases, parts of our brain are obviously awake while others are fast asleep. All this suggests that regions of our brain can make their own decisions about wakefulness. So next time your partner wants to talk at bedtime and asks "Are you asleep?" don't worry about saying yes. Truth is, part of your brain is probably already snoring.
—Adam Hinterthuer
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Add CommentCould this answer, in some part, my brain's predilection for waking my body up in the middle of the night and then, presumably, having a discussion with another part of the brain as to whether we should all go back to sleep or not.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMore than often, this rather selfish debate seems to take an hour or more, which makes me pretty ratty by the morning.
If this is what's happening, the question is, how do I establish a presence in this cognitive dialogue and therefore, become part of the decision making process?
It is said jokingly that a precautious man sleep with one open eye. Behold, now scientists uncovered that migratory birds are capable of take naps with one open eye, using only one side of their brains, alternatively. It is in the "Science/AAAS" online (All free articles - 06 November 2008).
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI dunnio, my teenagers sections must be wired together cause he is about as lazy as the day is long.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisjess
www.internet-anonymity.net.tc
About teenagers: Think 25-hour sleep cycle instead of 24-hour sleep cycle, plus parties, plus several available addictive drugs (some making things slower, and others making things faster).
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDolphins uses 100% brain awake and 50% while asleep and same goes for vision in order to stay afloat and continue breathing. Dolphin alternate brain halves and eyes during sleep.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHumans use 50% brain awake and 0% (or .5% for wet dreams) while asleep and same goes for vision in order to stay sane(non insomniac). Humans alternate brain halves when awake but only when doing something intelligent, otherwise its usually 25%.
So in theory unless we evolve into water creatures, (or flying) we will never use 100%. (fineprint: not approved for *pedia content)
This might be the reason I can not go to sleep now - the part of my brain that should take care of it is already snoring..
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis is probably why techniques such as relaxing your body in stages helps some people fall asleep. As you relax, certain parts of your brain must start nodding off, hopefully its enough to drag the rest down with it.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisi can totally agree w/ this b/c i can feel it.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI've found similar findings. Dolphins and pigs are one of the most receptive species to learning and sequence registration.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.doctorpho.com/