Sleep and dreams are universal. Yet, only in the last century has science begun to understand how fundamental they are to many aspects of our health and well-being. Why do humans sleep, and what happens when they don't? What happens when someone dreams? What is 'good' sleep and how can doctors diagnose and treat disturbed sleep? So many questions, many still unanswered: but we already know some things. Thanks to sleep studies and to those who "invented" them.
The first pioneers of sleep studies
Sleep science is a relatively young discipline. Only in the 20th century, with the advent of technologies such aselectroencephalogram (EEG), scientists were able to begin studying sleep systematically.
Among the pioneers of sleep science, there are figures such as Nathaniel Kleitman (pictured), considered the father of sleep research. Kleitman and his student Eugene Aserinsky discovered REM sleep in 1953. This discovery revolutionized our understanding of sleep, suggesting that the brain is highly active during certain stages of sleep. Another pioneer of sleep studies is William Dement, who founded the world's first sleep laboratory at Stanford University in 1970. Dement helped define sleep apnea syndrome and emphasized the importance of sleep for overall health.
The amazing discovery of REM sleep
In 1953, while working in his laboratory at the University of Chicago, Aserinsky was conducting experiments on children's sleep using an electroencephalograph (EEG) to record brain activity. During one of these experiments, conducted on his own eight-year-old son, Armond, Aserinsky noticed something unusual: at regular intervals throughout the night, the child's eyes began to move rapidly under closed eyelids, a phenomenon he had never observed before. Before.
Curious about this behavior, Aserinsky consulted with Kleitman, and together they decided to look into the matter further. With further observations and studies, they discovered that during these phases of rapid eye movements, the child's brain showed electrical activity similar to that of when he was awake. This stage of sleep, which they called “REM sleep,” was characterized not only by rapid eye movements, but also by intense brain activity and vivid dreams.
The discovery of REM sleep was revolutionary and profoundly changed the way science understood sleep. Before this discovery, it was thought that the brain remained relatively inactive during sleep. Kleitman and Aserinsky's discovery demonstrated that, on the contrary, the brain is extremely active in some phases of sleep, leading to new insights into the nature and function of sleep itself. This moment of intuition and discovery is a prime example of how careful observation and scientific curiosity can lead to fundamental discoveries, changing the course of research and profoundly influencing our understanding of everyday phenomena such as sleep.
Sleep studies: where are we now?
Today, sleep studies have become increasingly relevant. Scientists are trying to understand the biological mechanisms that regulate sleep and dreams, and how these processes influence physical and mental health. At the same time, doctors are developing new ways to diagnose and treat sleep disorders, which can have a significant impact on quality of life.
One of the most recent studies on sleep highlights its importance for the well-being of the individual, both physical and mental. Reveal that between 10% and 30% of the population in industrialized countries suffer from insomnia. What's more: sleep deprivation, both acute and chronic, can have negative effects on various components of the body, increasing the risk of disease.
Another recent study highlights the close interconnection between sleep quality, inflammation and pain, species in inflammatory musculoskeletal pathologies. Again: from a study by the Universities of Tokyo and Tsukuba, I learn that lack of sleep does not depend on our brain, as long assumed, but from the rest of our organism. And then there are studies that explore new molecules useful for the treatment of sleep disorders, such as daridorexant, which has shown significant improvements in adult patients with insomnia disorder. Again: some studies aim to explore the possibility of a world that almost does without sleep, reducing rest to just 2 hours. There is so much still around, and so much more to discover.
Let's continue to explore (with open eyes) the world of sleep and we will discover more and more fascinating truths about this fundamental part of our lives.
