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2 results

  • Chapter 1 - What Is Sleep?

  • from Part I - Sleep
  • Patrick McNamara, Boston University
  • Book:
    The Neuroscience of Sleep and Dreams
    Published online:
    15 February 2019
    Print publication:
    28 February 2019, pp 3-27

  • Summary

    Sleep in the form of regularly occurring periods of quiescence and some amount of sleep rebound can be found in even the simplest of organisms from earthworms and fruit flies to nonhuman primates and human beings. We do not see evidence, however, of the emergence of distinct sleep states until we come to the reptiles. Birds and aquatic mammals also evidence distinct sleep states including the phenomenon of unihemispheric sleep, which allows these animals to sleep while flying or swimming. REM may only occur bihemispherically. The presence of high voltage slow waves as well as REM-like brain activation patterns in reptiles, birds, and mammals suggests that the biphasic, REM, and NREM sleep phases we find in humans is a very ancient adaptation indeed and that its benefits outweigh the risks associated with quiescence and reduced responsiveness to the environment.

The Neuroscience of Sleep and Dreams
  • Patrick McNamara
  • Published online:
    15 February 2019
    Print publication:
    28 February 2019
  • This book provides a complete introduction to the neuroscience of sleep and dreams in plain language. In it, Patrick McNamara outlines new discoveries in the science of sleep and dreams, places them within an evolutionary context, and brings them together with existing scientific findings and implications for sleep medicine. Unlike other introductory texts, the important evolutionary background and social nature of sleep and dreams is emphasized. Major advances in sleep medicine, sleep and memory, dream content analyzes, brain correlates of sleep stages and lifespan development of sleep are covered in depth. While the text is geared towards students, the general reader and scientists studying other disciplines will find it accessible and informative.