Surprising Sleep Discovery Suggests We've Been Missing the Brain's Micro-Naps

A recent study in mice has revealed new insights into sleep patterns in the brain. Researchers found that certain brain regions may experience brief naps while others remain awake, challenging traditional notions of sleep and wakefulness. This discovery was made by measuring hyperlocal brain signals using single-wire electrodes, indicating a potential overlap between sleep and wake states. The study suggests that animals, including humans, may exhibit variations of unihemispheric sleep, where parts of the brain rest while others remain active. By analyzing brain cell activity lasting just milliseconds, researchers were able to identify distinct sleep-wake cycles in mice. These findings could lead to a better understanding of how different brain regions transition between states and may have implications for studying human sleep patterns. Published in Nature Neuroscience, this study highlights the complexity of sleep processes and the need to reconsider traditional definitions of sleep and wakefulness based on collective brain activity.