10 Brain Processes That Occur While You Sleep

We believe that during sleep we rest and regenerate. It is true, but this idea makes us suppose that the brain embarks on a series of passive or mechanical processes less important than everything it carries out during the day: processing the information it receives from the senses, reasoning, projecting, making decisions. and perform a multitude of tasks.

The essentials happen at night

However, science tells us that the brain does the most difficult work at night. It is with the eyes closed that the brain builds the most complex mental and physical frames.

1. More physiological activity

The brain does not turn off at night. On the contrary, there are times when it lights up with frenzied activity. When a healthy brain passes from wakefulness to sleep, a series of changes in neuronal dynamics are observed, which can be recorded through the electroencephalogram, and on the basis of which the phases of sleep are classified.

In one of these phases, that of paradoxical sleep (REM), we experience one of the moments of greatest physiological activation. A rapid electroencephalographic tracing appears, similar to when we are awake, with a predominance of sympathetic nervous activity and an increase in cardiac function, arterial pressure, and cerebral blood flow.

This increase in physiological activity is accompanied by skeletal muscle paralysis (otherwise the body would respond to dream images and move uncontrollably). It is in the slow wave phase that physiological activity is reduced and regeneration and energy storage is favored.

2. We ward off diseases

When we go through an infectious process we are more sleepy to promote recovery. But you don’t have to be sick for sleep medicine to kick in.

It is also preventive and if we do not get enough sleep, it increases the risk of prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women.

According to Matthew Walker, a neuroscientist at the University of California, routinely sleeping less than 6 or 7 hours multiplies the risk of developing cancer by two.

3. The metabolism adjusts

During sleep there are many adjustments in the complex functioning of the body necessary to prevent the development of diseases. For example, inflammation is reduced, which is the first stage of many diseases.

When sleeping, blood levels of biological markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein, alpha necrosis factor, and other cytokines decrease. This reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes and osteoarthritis.

The energy metabolism is also adjusted . Sleep acts favorably on the secretion of hormones related to hunger and insulin levels, which prevents imbalances in glucose levels, and with it obesity and diabetes.

4. Life acquires its order

The dream commands us. The chaotic electrical brain activity that is typical of the waking state transforms into a slower, more synchronized wave pattern during sleep.

Thanks to this work we can remember the events of the previous day in the order that they happened and our life does not become gibberish. This operation takes place in the deepest phase of sleep.

5. We learn from experiences

Sleep not only commands us, but makes it possible for us to learn from experiences. The sleeping brain selects what is worth remembering and what is not, something more momentous than anything we can consciously do during the day.

The memories are consolidated, so remember a password, a new word in another language or skill of eye-hand coordination depends on everything went well during sleep.

A few years ago some people believed that listening to recordings in another language at night could help them learn it. This has not been proven, but recent research has found that it is possible to enhance learning during sleep.

When you study, do it while perceiving a certain aroma or listening to music. Then play that music (at barely audible volume) or that smell while you sleep.

According to the studies of Professor Andrew A. Paller of Northwestern University, these stimuli evoke and fix the associated memories during the slow wave phase of sleep. But, to learn, it is above all important that you do not lack sleep.

6. We digest emotions

The consolidation process is especially important in relation to emotions. The brain’s natural tendency is to remember and even enhance experiences that are valuable to us. What is not important we forget, the conflicts and tensions of the day are lessened. Proof of the importance of this process is that if we deprive ourselves of sleep we immediately lose emotional stability and the challenges of day to day become impregnable castles.

7. We are more creative

Many artists attribute their creative ability to dreams . And they are right. For the brain, during sleep, especially during REM phase, there are no limits of logic: it makes all the associations that we do not allow ourselves during the day. This is like a training for fluid, flexible, creative or divergent thinking that serves to find the best solutions to problems.

A study conducted by scientists at Harvard University and published in Cognitive Brain Research found that people who wake up in REM achieve 32% better results solving anagrams (discovering the different words that can be written with a set of letters) than if they wake up in non-REM phase.

8. We cleanse ourselves of toxins

While we sleep, the cerebrospinal fluid, which bathes the brain and spinal cord, is pumped faster.

This clear liquid acts like soap , washing away brain waste products, molecular debris produced by neurons, and toxic proteins that can lead to dementia over time. So we wake up with a freshly showered brain.

9. Neurons get stronger

During sleep, repair and growth of the brain takes place by increasing the production of myelin, which is part of the structure of neurons.

In addition, the pineal gland reigns at night . If we have prepared our sleep well – avoiding the stimuli of light and stress – this gland will begin to produce melatonin, the sleep hormone, a highly antioxidant agent that protects neurons from the damage that free radicals can cause.

It is our natural defense against neurodegenerative diseases. Upon receiving the morning light, the pineal will cut production and we will wake up full of mental clarity.

10. We see life with more humor

Two of the first symptoms of lack of sleep are irritability and depression. And one way to treat these disorders is to sleep a few more hours.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have shown that sleeping 4.5 hours for a week produces causeless anger, sadness and mental exhaustion. Instead, sleeping well puts us in a good mood and makes us feel like we can handle all challenges.