A team of scientists from University College London has discovered that nighttime sleep plays a key role in resetting the brain, allowing neural connections to rest and regenerate. This finding adds further support to the synaptic homeostasis hypothesis, which posits that sleep is a mechanism that ensures overall brain health. The study was published in the journal Nature. One of the study’s authors, biologist Jason Rihel, explains: “While the function of sleep remains mysterious, it may serve as a period of shutdown when connections in the brain can be weakened in preparation for a new day and new learning.” The researchers studied the synaptic activity of zebrafish, whose brains are relatively easy to observe and analyze. They found that the fish’s neurons made more connections during the day and lost them during sleep. This process turned out to be not only natural, but also essential for brain health. The longer the fish stayed awake, the more connections they made, and the more they lost when they finally fell asleep. “If the patterns observed in zebrafish are also true for humans, it could mean that synaptic remodeling is more efficient at night, when we really need sleep, than during naps,” says Rihel. This study opens up new horizons in our understanding of the role of sleep in humans. Lack of sleep can negatively affect our ability to learn and retain information, highlighting the importance of regular, healthy sleep. However, many aspects of sleep remain a mystery. Experts continue to explore the role sleep plays in consolidating memories and clearing the brain of “waste”. Some theories suggest that the brain may perform other functions in the second half of the night that are not related to recovery. The post The brain reboots at night, scientists have discovered appeared first on Anomalien.com.