Deep sleep is the predominant phase in adult mammals during a night's rest. It represents approximately 80% of the total sleep time in humans, and 95% in mice.“The role of deep sleep and REM sleep (note: characterized by intense neuronal activity) is still not clearly established. However, we do know that lack of sleep leads to problems with memory, emotional regulation, physical performance, concentration, and more. ”,” explains Christopher Ehlen, a researcher at the Morehouse School of Medicine (Georgia, USA). With his team, he helped shed light on one of the functions of deep sleep: the development of resilience. His work on the mouse model was published in the Journal of Neuroscience. “Our study showed that promoting deep sleep during the natural rest period strengthens resilience to stress, while suppressing it during this same period prevents it.”", the biologist summarizes.
By Marie Parra THE Subscribers
American researchers have identified a unique brain feature in resilient mice: after a stressful period, their neural activity is remodeled during deep sleep. These findings highlight the importance of this restorative sleep phase.
Illustration of a synapse
RUSLANAS BARANAUSKAS/SCIENCE PHO / RBU / Science Photo Library via AFP
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