Sleep 101

German scientists pinpoint a specific gene that may divide early risers from droopy-eyed nappers

Why are some people alert and chipper in the morning while others can barely drag themselves out of bed? New research suggests that genetics may play a role. Specifically, it’s a gene called ABCC9, which scientists have dubbed the “morning person” gene. Here’s what you should know:

How did scientists find this gene?

German scientists studied more than 4,000 people across Europe. The subjects filled out questionnaires on their ...

Sleep Needs Don’t Change as You Age

There is a myth that older people need less sleep. That is simply not true. All adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. As we age, it gets more difficult to get a good night’s sleep. That doesn’t mean we don’t still need seven to nine hours. One of the challenges to healthy aging is troubleshooting sleep to ensure that we are getting enough rest for good health.

Sleep Changes in ...

Sleep has been the subject of speculation and thought since the time of the early Greek philosophers, but only recently have researchers discovered ways to study sleep in a systematic and objective way. The advent of new technology such as the electroencephalograph has allowed scientists to look at and measure electrical patterns and activity produced by the sleeping brain.
While we can now investigate sleep and related phenomena, not all researchers agree on exactly why we sleep. A number of ...

Study also found sinuses act like a bellows, help keep brain the right temperature.

Yawning helps keep the brain cool, and the sinuses play a role in that process by acting as bellows, a new report suggests.

Yawning isn’t triggered because you’re bored, tired or need oxygen. Rather, yawning helps regulate the brain’s temperature, according to Gary Hack, of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, and Andrew Gallup, of Princeton University.

“The brain is exquisitely sensitive to temperature changes and therefore must ...

More than one-third of Americans sleep less than seven hours a night, and many pay for it the next day. Are you among the walking bleary? Try one of these tricks to get the rest your body craves.

Too many Americans aren’t getting enough sleep — and their minds and bodies are paying the price, according to two new surveys released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). More than one-third of American adults clocked in seven or fewer ...

Sleep plays a critical role in how we learn and how we remember. Learn about the latest studies involving the brain, memory, and how much sleep you need.

It is well-known that a good night’s sleep is critical for a healthy body. Now recent research has shown that sleep is even more important when it comes to learning and memory than previously thought.

“If you shorten sleep both short-term (one night) or long-term (more than two weeks), the ability to ...

Sure, cozying up for a midday siesta sounds relaxing. But it may be even healthier for you than you think.

Want to ace that next test? Try taking a mid-afternoon siesta.

While the findings are preliminary, new research raises the prospect that sleep, specifically a lengthy afternoon nap, prepares the brain to remember things. Think of it as similar to rebooting a computer to get it to work more smoothly.

“Sleep is not just for the body. It’s very much for ...

Circadian rhythm isn’t a new type of dance step; it has to do with our internal sleep clock. Learn about how your sleep clock works.

Your pattern of sleep and waking is run by the body’s internal sleep clock. Governed by light, your internal sleep clock tells you when it’s time to fall asleep and wake up. Your internal sleep clock, otherwise known as the circadian rhythm, runs on a 24-hour cycle. Disruptions to the circadian rhythm and your internal sleep ...

The number of hours of sleep you need to stay healthy and alert differs according to your gender and age.

Sleep is key to your physical health and emotional vitality, but just how many hours of sleep you need depends on your age, your stage of development, and your gender.

“Sleep is important for mental function: alertness, memory consolidation, mood regulation, and physical health,” says Phyllis C. Zee, MD, PhD, professor of neurology and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at ...

Learn about the different stages of sleep, from light to deep sleep, after your head hits the pillow.

When you sleep, your body goes through several sleep cycles, each involving different sleep stages.

Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep every night, and during this time, your body goes through different phases. The four sleep stages of sleep include:

REM Sleep Confusion

While rapid eye movement (REM) sleep gets a lot of attention, researchers are still trying to decipher ...