Why Do We Sleep? (Summary of the Book Why We Sleep)

 Our article today is about a book titled Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, the first of its kind written by a scientific expert.

Professor Matthew Walker, who has spent twenty years conducting advanced research to solve the mystery of why sleep is important, explores this topic by examining creatures from across the animal kingdom as well as major human studies.

Why We Sleep delves into everything from what really happens in our brains and bodies when we dream to how caffeine and alcohol affect sleep and why our sleep patterns change over the course of our lives. It ultimately reshapes our appreciation for this extraordinary phenomenon that safeguards our existence.

Walker spent four years writing this book, which highlights that sleep deprivation is linked to numerous fatal diseases, including dementia. The book has become a global bestseller, including being a Sunday Times bestseller in the UK and a New York Times bestseller.

The book is divided into four sections:  

1. The first section defines what sleep is and its types.  

2. The second section answers the question, "Why should we sleep?" and discusses the consequences of not getting enough sleep each night.  

3. The third section delves into the world of dreams, addressing questions like how and why we dream and whether dreams play a significant role in our brain's information processing or are merely incidental.  

4. The book concludes with a chapter on the societal and individual consequences of disregarding the importance of sleep.

Stages of Sleep

Walker divided sleep into three primary stages:  

1. Deep Sleep  

2. Light Sleep  

3. REM Sleep (Rapid Eye Movement)  

1. Deep Sleep

To reach this stage, the author recommends going to bed at the same time every day, including weekends, and giving yourself time to relax before sleeping. However, if you delay this schedule on a particular day, you may sacrifice this crucial stage.  

Importance of Deep Sleep:  

Numerous studies have shown that sleep helps transfer what you learned during the day from short-term memory to long-term memory. Deep sleep consolidates all the information you've gathered throughout the day and stores it in the brain's main memory centers. Sacrificing this stage prevents the brain from transferring this information, causing it to be lost.  

After this stage, the brain transitions to the second stage.  

2. Light Sleep

During this stage, the brain cleanses itself of all the residues accumulated throughout the day, including certain proteins directly linked to Alzheimer's disease. Not getting enough rest means your brain doesn’t have enough time to eliminate its waste.