'Sleep' Resets The Brain, Study Says; Synapses Shrink By 20%?

By Carrie Winters - 06 Feb '17 05:31AM
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A recent study indicates that "sleep" helps a person reset the brain. There are certain changes in the brain as a person is sleeping.

According to a report, the study indicates that brain synapses shrink of up to 20 percent in "sleep." It is during this time that the brain synapses resets to prepare for new inputs once the person wakes. This resetting of the brain synapses is called 'synaptic homeostatis.'

 Synapses are features in the brain that transmits signals between neurons. If the brain does not undergo the synaptic homeostatis, there is a tendency for it to be burned out. It is indicated in the report that sleep is the only time that there is a renormalization of the synapses.

The study further indicates that brain is restructured in "sleep." This is the time that the brain gets to regain the energy and functions well right after. This study also explains why the memory s affected when a person lacks sleep.

Adenosine is also one aspect of "sleep." This neurotransmitter builds up which leads the person to go to sleep. Although, it is indicated in the report that more research needs to be done in order to get more information about the brain activities when sleeping.

Meanwhile, there has been research all over the years regarding the brain's activities during "sleep." The study also indicates that sleep helps the brain retain the important memories. The brain synapses takes a rest during sleep and it takes away overwhelming information that has been gathered when a person is awake.

The studies though do not specifically indicate that which information the brain prunes while in the period of sleeping. However, it is noted that "sleep" is a great help to restart anew especially when the brain has been busy all day long. There are still studies needed to further check information in the brain when sleeping.

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