The Buckingham

Sleep-deprived brains turn themselves off

We all know how it feels to run on too little of sleep. Some of us become irritable, moody, sensitive, and even emotional. The lack of sleep can completely throw some people off of their everyday normal schedule, making it difficult to get back on track. For others the lack of sleep can have no effect on their lives and they are able to function normally day to day.

Studies today have come to some conclusions on exactly what effects lack of sleep can have on the human body and brain. One recent breakthrough researchers have discovered while experimenting with rats is once they become sleep deprived their brains actually begin to shut down, although they are still awake. We are able to link the same type of effects to humans because of how vital sleep is to both humans and animals.

The lack of sleep along with these recent findings are worrisome to many because it means that there are local symptoms of tiredness before there are global signs. This can have devastating consequences especially when it comes to an example like getting behind the wheel. This continued research is key when it comes to sharing the warnings of sleep deprivation.