Our brains need the proper recharging and this can only be experience with proper sleep. Apparently we all have our ups and downs and the stress from everyday thinking and decision making will take its toll on the human brain.

Hence, it is not surprising to note why in the initial stages of sleep that energy levels increase in the brain region found to be active during the waking hours. These results suggest that a surge of cellular energy may replenish brain processes needed to function normally while awake.

Read

a

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

a

At times where we find ourselves in the middle of having to make critical decisions concerning work or life, we would often be told to sleep on it. At this state, we can relax our thoughts and gather new ideas, making it all the broader as far as weighing out the pros and cons and that coming up with a final decision.

Many have tried to make judgment when they sleep. Certain factors may come into play when you are unconscious. While it can be a big help, reality has its own share of factors which may not necessarily come up when you sleep. Hence if you want to pass a decision, make sure you are conscious and aware of it.

This is perhaps better than leaving final decisions based on dreams or sub consciousness. In today’s world, reality has to be met with factual moves based on the situation that you may find yourself in.

Unconscious decision-making was thought to be best in certain situations because it is not limited by how much stuff can be shuffled through the mind – a limitation thought to hobble conscious thought. And so, scientists had said the benefits of unconscious thinking are greatest when a decision is complex, with multiple options and attributes.

(Source) Yahoo News

a

Remember that if you are not sleeping properly, chances are you will have to consider the consequences. Sleep may be a sign of laziness to some but if you look beyond this, you will find that it has a bearing in practically anything we do. Don’t overlook it. It may be something you can recount as crucial in your life.

“If all you need is that amount, fine,” says Horne, “but cutting down to five hours or less is certainly not recommended, particularly for people whose lifestyles are already overburdened.” In fact, says Horne, the cumulative effects of too little sleep won’t just leave people tetchy – it is potentially risky.

There is plenty of evidence that long-term sleep deprivation can be unhealthy. Horne says that it can affect decision-making and cognitive functioning, and contribute to obesity, metabolic syndrome and related problems.

(Source) Timesonline

a