Why do we sleep?

Question

2 theories?

Answer 1

Learning and memory: Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. In studies, people who’d slept after learning a task did better on tests later.
Metabolism and weight: Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.
Safety: Sleep debt contributes to a greater tendency to fall asleep during the daytime. These lapses may cause falls and mistakes such as medical errors, air traffic mishaps, and road accidents.
Mood: Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness. Too little sleep can also leave you too tired to do the things you like to do.
Cardiovascular health: Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat.
Disease: Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also help fight cancer.

Answer 2

I am not sure what the two theories are, but my take on sleep is that it provides the body an opportunity to repair tissues, heal wounds, grow (children and babies), fight illnesses and basically return us to homeostasis. It gives the body an opportunity to assess itself and make necessary repairs.

I also believe that sleep is conducive to having good mental health. It gives the brain a chance to go over what happened during the day and store the information in long term memory. It also gives the brain a chance to rebalance emotions. Have you ever been so upset and just cried and cried and then you got really exhausted- emotionally exhausted? Upon going to bed and waking in the morning (or after a nap) your emotions are not nearly as strong as they were before the sleep. I think it gets us back to normalcy. The brain handles the hard emotional stuff while we sleep and we wake up feeling much better. I think it cleanses the mind from having too much going on in there and restores equilibrium.

Answer 3

1. The heart needs to take a break. It is documented that at some point, when you're in a very deep sleep, the heart actually stops, takes a break, and the goes on beating.

2. Who is to say that your sleep time is any less valid in the realm of existence than the time you're awake. You probably use more of your brain while sleeping.

Theory (2) is a theory. Statement (1) is a biological fact -- you heart needs a break.

Answer 4

I saw a thing on 20-20 about it, and scientist discovered (quite by accident) while working with lab mice on obesity that there is a chemical that the brain manufactures when you sleep. You need that chemical (can't remember the name) to function. They are experimenting with synthesizing the chemical to use as a drug that would allow people to stay awake for days on end without any crashing or fatigue. That's the only theory that makes sense to me.

Answer 5

There's really only one theory - rest.

Answer 6

its not a theory if we didn't sleep we would die
also to rejuvenate and renew our energy

Answer 7

To rest. To restore energy.

Answer 8

To keep our minds from going into to intense a state.

Answer 9

Because I've been sitting here toooooo long answering questions!

Answer 10

Because the real world sucks