It seems that sleep loss is more serious that we thought. While we all know that chronic sleep loss does affect the memory, it seems that reflex action and other brain function can severely be affected as well. A study over at the Harvard Medical School can attest to that when they put nine volunteers on a specialized sleep-wake schedule made of 33 hours of wakefulness and 10 hours of sleep.

Using a series of tests, the researchers measured the subjects’ reflexes, motor skills, memory, decision making, and other brain functions. The results have yielded conclusions that may overturn commonly held misconceptions about sleep. Several weeks into the study, the subjects’ average reaction time at night had slowed from a quarter of a second to almost four seconds.

(Source) The Crimson

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Dreams have drawn various conclusions. Some say they are subconscious states while others claim they are a parallel straight of awareness. Others call them an emotional state drawn from what we have already encountered prior to sleep while others call it something as an omen. Which is which? There is no specific explanation for dreams. Scientists continue to debate on its frugality. But analyzing dreams is perhaps the closest we can get.

The latest analysis is that of tagging dreams as a physiological. The brain is warming its circuits, anticipating the sights and sounds and emotions of waking. And as always there are objections. Many have their own presumptions and no one is bound to agree to claim that his own findings are false. Which do we believe? One thing is for sure, it is a different state. Some even call it the state where we go when we die. If there is a safe conclusion, it is perhaps the fact that we all have our own beliefs and while science is intervening, you can bet that a lot of debate will continue.

(Source) NY Times

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