That is roughlyhow much of our livesare spent asleep.
Here are some of the biggest recent breakthroughs in the science of sleep.
Sometimes participants couldnt recall any dreaming.
The study team then looked at what washappening in the participants brainmoments before waking.
Researchers could predict the presence or absence of dream experiences by monitoring this zone in real time.
Another exciting development in the study of dreams is research into lucid dreams, in whichyoure aware thatyoure dreaming.
A 2021 study establishedtwo-way communicationbetween a dreamer and a researcher.
The researcher read out maths problems (what is eight minus six?).
The dreamer could respond to this question with eye movements.
The dreamers were accurate, indicating they had access to high level cognitive functions.
However, a 2023 review of recent research has shown that memories formed during the dayget reactivatedwhile were sleeping.
Researchers discovered this usingmachine learningtechniques to decode the contents of the sleeping brain.
Science is showing that sleeping on it really does help.
Sleep keeps our minds healthy
We all know that a lack of sleep makes us feel bad.
These studies have shown that a lack of sleep severely disrupts theconnectivity betweendifferent brain networks.
Sleep loss may even make you less likely tohelp other people.
These findings may explain why poor sleep quality is soubiquitous in poor mental health.
The build-up of -amyloid, ametabolic waste product, is one of the mechanisms underlying Alzheimers disease.
Recently, it has become apparent that deep, undisturbed sleep is good forflushing these toxinsout of the brain.
These interventions can improve other aspects of our lives as well.
