Sleep Helps Brain Cells Get Ready to Learn

Sleep Helps Brain Cells Get Ready to Learn http://livescience.com/16966-sleep-brain-learn-nsf-ria.html

Scientists think sleep gives our bodies a chance to repair itself, gives our brain time to organize our thoughts, and helps us learn more the next day. Neuroscientist Chiara Cirelli at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been studying "synaptic homeostasis" in rats, mice, and fruit flies. She stated sleeping slows brain activity and may return synapses to a less excited state, refreshing and preparing us for more efficient learning in the morning.

Images of a sleep-deprived fly marked high concentrations of Bruchpilot, a synaptic protein involved in communication between neurons. A well-rested fly shows lower levels of Bruchpilot. A more recent experiment showed the branching at the ends of neurons grow longer and make more connections after flies spread their wings for the first time. Then these connections shrink up at night which the researchers think get them ready for a new learning experience the next day.

Sleep is definately needed to have an attentive, productive day at school.