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Functions of Sleep and NREMS

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Understanding Sleep and Dreaming

Abstract

Sleep must be necessary for something because it is so pervasive in animals and it is so compelling. Historically there have been many speculations about the functions of sleep based on the metaphysical and scientific understandings at the time. Most people today would say that sleep is necessary for rest and restoration of the body, but this is only a small part of the functions of sleep. More substantial are related notions that sleep conserves energy and might also have adaptive behavioral functions such as keeping the sleeper safe from harm. However, most contemporary theories focus on the benefits of sleep for the brain and brain function including improving cognitive, especially memory, functions and keeping the brain tuned up and flexible for new learning. An emerging theory is that sleep is necessary to restore the local brain cells that have been very active during wakefulness. Many of the theories suggest there are different functions for each of the stages of sleep. N3 may be most important for the restoration of the body or brain and for conservation of energy. The functions of N2 are not as well understood, but N2 seems important for performance of procedural memory tasks such as simple motor skills. N1 is thought to be a brief, transitory state between wake and other stages of sleep. One interesting idea is that sleep early in the night is necessary, but sleep later in the night is optional. The functions of REMS and dreaming are covered in Chap. 11.

Portions of this chapter have been adapted from Moorcroft (1993) with permission of the publisher. Specific references to statements in this chapter that can be found there and in multiple, widely available sources are not included in the text. A selection of these sources is listed below and can also be consulted for verification or more detail (Cartwright 2010; Cirelli and Tononi 2008; Frank 2006; Horne 2006; Kryger et al. 2011; Siegel 2005; Vassalli and Dijk 2009).

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Notes

  1. 1.

    From Borbély 1986 and Horne 1988.

  2. 2.

    Animals that regulate their body temperature by producing heat through internal means.

  3. 3.

    Learning without awareness.

  4. 4.

    Those whose infants are born relatively immature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northern Colorado Sleep Consultants, 4443 Vista Drive, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA

    William H. Moorcroft

  2. Emeritus Professor Sleep and Dreaming Laboratory and Psychology Department, Luther College, Decorah, IA, USA

    William H. Moorcroft

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  1. William H. Moorcroft
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Correspondence to William H. Moorcroft .

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Moorcroft, W.H. (2013). Functions of Sleep and NREMS. In: Understanding Sleep and Dreaming. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6467-9_10

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