Why do we sleep
By: ^_^ Mackenzie Albertson ^_^
Inactivity Theory
“One of the earliest theories of sleep, sometimes called the adaptive or evolutionary theory, suggests that inactivity at night is an adaptation that served a survival function by keeping organisms out of harm’s way at times when they would be particularly vulnerable. The theory suggests that animals that were able to stay still and quiet during these periods of vulnerability had an advantage over other animals that remained active. These animals did not have accidents during activities in the dark, for example, and were not killed by predators. Through natural selection, this behavioral strategy presumably evolved to become what we now recognize as sleep.
A simple counter-argument to this theory is that it is always safer to remain conscious in order to be able to react to an emergency (even if lying still in the dark at night). Thus, there does not seem to be any advantage of being unconscious and asleep if safety is paramount.”
I feel that we sleep to give the body's emergency system a break. Giving your emergency system a break will be a great help. I think that the selection above was trying to explain how we help the body's emergency system when going to sleep . Same thing goes for animals when they fall asleep they give their emergency system a break as well. When you don't get enough sleep I think it harms your body because the next day you can't stay focused when in work or anything. I have the understanding of when you sleepwalk in the middle of the night out Emergency systems start up again because who knows what could happen many people have broke arms legs fell downstairs etc. Some people move in their sleep those people aren't as lucky as the people who sleep still. People who move in their sleep don't get as much sleep but on the other hand people who sleep still get more sleep.
Comentary for #1
Restorative Theories
“Another explanation for why we sleep is based on the long-held belief that sleep in some way serves to "restore" what is lost in the body while we are awake. Sleep provides an opportunity for the body to repair and rejuvenate itself. In recent years, these ideas have gained support from empirical evidence collected in human and animal studies. The most striking of these is that animals deprived entirely of sleep lose all immune function and die in just a matter of weeks. This is further supported by findings that many of the major restorative functions in the body like muscle growth, tissue repair, protein synthesis, and growth hormone release occur mostly, or in some cases only, during sleep.
Other rejuvenating aspects of sleep are specific to the brain and cognitive function. For example, while we are awake, neurons in the brain produce adenosine, a by-product of the cells' activities. The build-up of adenosine in the brain is thought to be one factor that leads to our perception of being tired. (Incidentally, this feeling is counteracted by the use of caffeine, which blocks the actions of adenosine in the brain and keeps us alert.) Scientists think that this build-up of adenosine during wakefulness may promote the "drive to sleep." As long as we are awake, adenosine accumulates and remains high. During sleep, the body has a chance to clear adenosine from the system, and, as a result, we feel more alert when we wake.”
Sleep restores everything we used while we were awake.Sleeping refreshes our body.It helps us get ready for our next day or adventure.
Comentery for #2
Work cited
http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/benefits-of-sleep/why-do-we-sleep
"Why Do We Sleep, Anyway?" Why Do We Sleep, Anyway? N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2015.
Subtopic #2:
http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/benefits-of-sleep/why-do-we-sleep
"Why Do We Sleep, Anyway?" Why Do We Sleep, Anyway? N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2015.