Science
We intuitively know that sleep is important to us, and a great deal of research shows the harmful effects of insomnia on our health. But what actually happens in our brain when we lack sleep?
The researchers decided to find an answer to this question in a new study that showed that as insomnia increases, our brain gradually turns into a bundle of superreactive neurons. In a way, our brain overheats when we're deprived of the rest we need.
A research team led by Marcello Massimini from the University of Milan conducted an experiment in which a strong magnetic flux was sent to the participants' brains, which sent a cascade of electrical echoes through their neurons. Scientists then measured the strength of these electrical responses in the frontal cortex — that is, the area of the brain that is responsible for making organizational decisions. This procedure was performed the day before and after the participants spent a sleepless night.
As a result, the electrical response was much stronger after insomnia than after a normal night. Moreover, the effect was corrected after the participants had enough sleep.
The findings of the study support the theory of why people sleep. While awake, the brain accumulates connections between neurons as we learn new things. According to theory, sleep sweeps away disturbances from the brain, leaving only the most important connections.
Increased excitability in the brain explains why lack of sleep can trigger seizures that are marked by massive excitability of nerve cells. However, sleep deprivation can sometimes improve the condition of people with depression. Although for healthy people, there is still a reason to get enough sleep.