Sleep

Sleep is a physiological behavior that is common in all animal species. It forms around one third of a human life. It is not known clearly the exact functions of sleep but it seems to be essential for survival as prolonged sleep deprivation leads to severe physical impairment followed by cognitive loss and eventually death.

What is Sleep?

Management of Sleep Deprivation

Causes of Sleep Deprivation

Tips on Getting to Sleep

Can too much sleep be dangerous?

What is Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD)?

Causes of Nocturnal Awakenings

Could Humans Ever Hibernate?

How to Catch up on Lost Sleep

How Can Sleep Affect Men's Health?

Role of Sleep in Memory Consolidation

Importance of Sleep

See more featured articles »

Brain Activity During Sleep

The DEC2 Gene and Sleep

A Guide to Managing Sleep Disorders

Stages of Sleep

What Does Polysomnography Involve?

Why Do We Sleep?

REM Sleep Activity

Sleep Hygiene

Does Your Alarm Sound Affect Your Mood?

Sleep and Yoga

How Long should my Child Sleep for?

How Does Pain Affect Your Sleep?

Neuroscience of Sleep

Difference Between Nightmares and Night Terrors

What is the Role of Melatonin in Sleep Regulation?

How Much Sleep do People Need?

Sleep and Hormones

History of Sleep

Shift Work Sleep Disorder

Hypnotics and Sleep

Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD) Management

What is Sleep Regression?

The Importance of Having a Good Night’s Sleep

Sleep Onset Mechanics: Understanding the Transition from Wakefulness to Slumber

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Spoon Test for Sleep Deprivation

Regulation of Sleep

Why Do We Dream?

A Guide to Healthy Sleep Positions

Promoting Sounder Sleep in Older Adults

How Does Sleep Affect Your Immunity?

Nutritional Effects on Sleep

Stimulants and Sleep

Sleep Deprivation - Inadequate Quantity of Sleep

Ghrelin and Sleep

Function of Sleep

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

Is Daytime Napping in Adults Good or Bad?

The Health Risks of Oversleeping

How Can Mindfulness Meditation Improve Sleep?

Types of Sleep Disorders

Effect of Sleep on Your Emotions

What is the Circadian Rhythm?

Health Effects of Poor Sleep - Quantity and Quality

How Long Should My Teenager Sleep For?

Latest Sleep News and Research

New insights into neural replay and memory formation from flying bats

Every day, our brain takes countless fleeting experiences - from walks on the beach to presentations at work - and transforms them into long-term memories.

10 Jul 2025

Doulas, once a luxury, are increasingly covered by Medicaid — even in GOP states

As a postpartum doula, Dawn Oliver does her best work in the middle of the night.

10 Jul 2025

Slower speech response linked to sleepiness in older adults

A new study led by UCLA investigators shows that Verbal Reaction Time (VRT), the amount of time it takes a person to respond verbally, can be a marker of sleepiness in older adults.

9 Jul 2025

Study spotlights postoperative delirium as a preventable and high-impact complication

A new large-scale study spotlights postoperative delirium as a preventable and high-impact complication, which is driven by patient frailty and surgical stress-and one that can be addressed through low-cost, evidence-based interventions.

9 Jul 2025

MIT develops implantable device to automatically release emergency glucagon

For people with Type 1 diabetes, developing hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is an ever-present threat. When glucose levels become extremely low, it creates a life-threatening situation for which the standard treatment of care is injecting a hormone called glucagon.

9 Jul 2025

Improving sleep and lifestyle could reduce heart disease risk in menopausal women

During the menopause transition, only 1 in 5 women have optimal scores using the American Heart Association's health-assessment tool, known as Life's Essential 8 (LE8).

9 Jul 2025

Why vitamin B6 could raise the risk of hypoglycemia for people with diabetes

A large-scale Mendelian randomization study found no genetic evidence that vitamins A, C, or D reduce the risk of major diabetic complications. However, higher genetically predicted vitamin B6 levels were strongly associated with increased risk of diabetic hypoglycemia, warranting caution with supplementation.

8 Jul 2025

Uncovering the hidden dangers of artificial light exposure

In a comprehensive Genomic Press Innovators & Ideas interview published today, distinguished neuroscientist Dr. Randy J. Nelson shares insights from his pioneering research on how disrupted circadian rhythms affect brain function and overall health.

8 Jul 2025

Twin study reveals genetic influence on infant crying and sleep

How much an infant cries is largely steered by their genetics and there is probably not much that parents can do about it.

7 Jul 2025

Circadian misalignment in the blind may impact daily brain functions

This study investigates how blindness affects sleep, dreams, and spatial awareness, revealing links between circadian rhythms and cognitive performance.

7 Jul 2025

Study provides a molecular snapshot of Tanshi constitution's immunological landscape

The study aims to uncover the immunological basis of Tanshi (phlegm-dampness) constitution—a subhealth type in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)—using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

7 Jul 2025

Bayesian neural networks advance understanding of gut microbe metabolism

Gut bacteria are known to be a key factor in many health-related concerns. However, the number and variety of them is vast, as are the ways in which they interact with the body's chemistry and each other.

7 Jul 2025

$Ten-year study tracks trends in pediatric clavicle fractures across the U.S.$

Ten-year study tracks trends in pediatric clavicle fractures across the U.S.

Clavicular fractures are common injuries among children, usually due to sports-related trauma or accidental falls. The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiology of clavicular fractures among children in the United States between 2014 and 2023.

4 Jul 2025

Teen drivers spend over one fifth of each trip distracted by phones

A new study offers a stark reminder of how pervasive cell phone use while driving is for young people, as findings demonstrate teen drivers spend an average of 21.1% of each trip viewing their mobile behind the wheel.

4 Jul 2025

Are you at risk? Waist size, not weight, could affect fertility in women

Researchers found that higher relative fat mass (RFM), a measure of visceral body fat, is significantly associated with increased infertility risk in U.S. women aged 20–44. The study suggests RFM may be a more sensitive screening tool for infertility risk than traditional BMI, especially in women with normal weight but high visceral fat.

3 Jul 2025

Survey: Many adults unaware of key facts that can help prevent SIDS

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexpected, unexplained, sudden death of a child younger than one year old.

3 Jul 2025

Study reveals high rates of distracted driving among teenagers

A new study from Mass General Brigham researchers offers a stark reminder of how pervasive cell phone use while driving is among young people.

3 Jul 2025

Why afternoon sunlight could be keeping your teen awake at night

Bright afternoon and early evening light exposure in adolescents leads to lower melatonin levels and delays circadian rhythms, instead of protecting against evening light effects. Long-term light history, especially morning exposure, may help align adolescent sleep cycles.

2 Jul 2025

Poor lifestyle habits nearly double your chance of developing AFib

A large Framingham Heart Study analysis found that adults with poor cardiovascular health scores on the Life’s Essential 8 were nearly twice as likely to develop atrial fibrillation as those with ideal scores. Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, especially optimal BMI, blood pressure, and glucose, may help reduce AF risk.

2 Jul 2025

Looking for a natural way to lower blood pressure? Whole grains might be the answer

A new meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies found that higher whole grain intake is linked to a significantly lower risk of developing hypertension, with a 26% risk reduction observed between highest and lowest intake groups. In contrast, refined grain consumption showed no clear association with hypertension risk.

2 Jul 2025