551

ILLUSTRATION: DION MBD

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very night we lie down, close our eyes, and lose consciousness for

several hours. We are not only inactive but also vulnerable.

Modern society has long underrated sleep. Recently, we have seen a

shift toward the appreciation of a good night’s sleep. The myth of the

strong, successful individual who can get by with minimal time in bed or

who skimps on sleep to get more done has by now been thoroughly de-

bunked. Sleep is an important and non-negotiable bodily function that is

essential for human health. It benefi ts our brains and mental well-being,

and even other entities such as our cardiovascular and immune systems.

Because sleep is so common in humans and in the animal world, we take it

for granted and do not ask the obvious question: What might be its physiologi-

cal purpose? The simplistic answer—that our bodies and nervous systems need

to rest—can be dismissed. We may not be aware of it, but our brains are highly

active while we sleep. Over the past decades, we have learned much about the

genes, molecules, cells, and circuits involved in sleep and its regulation. Yet we

still do not really know why we sleep.

This special issue summarizes recent insights into the basic mechanisms

underlying sleep and the many functions our brains perform during this

time. The issue also focuses on sleep’s restorative and health-promoting

aspects for individuals and for society more generally. It is time to acknowl-

edge and enjoy what Shakespeare called the “honey-heavy dew of slumber.”

One of the many functions performed by

our brains during sleep is the consolidation

of memories. Recent episodes in our daily

lives are processed for long-term storage.

By Peter Stern

THE MANY BENEFITS OF

HEALTHY SLEEP

NEWS

Divided we sleep p. 552

REVIEWS

The inescapable drive to sleep: Overlapping

mechanisms of sleep and sedation p. 556

Brain neural patterns and the memory

function of sleep p. 560

The interconnected causes and

consequences of sleep in the brain p. 564

The translational neuroscience of sleep:

A contextual framework p. 568

RELATED ITEMS

NEWS p. 526

POLICY FORUM p. 530

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