We all sleep, but … how much do we really know about sleep?
Much of what happens while we sleep remains a mystery: the reasons we need to sleep, the reasons why lack of sleep harms our health, and why we dream remain research topics that do not yet have a definitive answer.
Today we tell you 6 surprising curiosities about sleep that you may not have known.
Sleep is a crucial biological process; essential determinant of human health and performance. While not all functions of sleep are fully understood, it is known to restore energy, promote healing, interact with the immune system, and impact both brain function and behavior.
We all know its importance but; did you know…
The person who has been without sleep the longest has done so for 11 days and 25 minutes.
A student from San Diego underwent this experiment in 1964, since then officially there is no evidence of having exceeded this time. The student himself claimed that he would not repeat the experiment.
On average it takes us 7 minutes to fall asleep.
If we have fallen asleep before it is because our excess of fatigue has influenced it, and if we take longer there are multiple factors that may also be affecting the correct rest. Here we tell you what it can affect your good rest and what you can do about it.
We dream between 4 and 7 times every night.
Matthew Walker, professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley and author of the book “Why we sleep” says that dreaming “provides a calming night balm that polishes our emotional experiences so that we feel better the next day.” These deep dreams occur during the REM phase and especially in the morning before waking up; and although we do not remember it, we will have had more than one dream per night.
All the faces you see in a dream are faces that you have seen in real life.
Our brain is not capable of inventing new faces, which does not mean that we know these people, but it does mean that we have seen them even for only seconds.
Do we dream in color or in black and white?
Well, television can have a lot to do with it. Before the invention of television in 1915, people claimed to dream in color. It was with the advent of the black and white television that 20% of the population began to dream in black and white as well. That trend changed again with the advent of color television in the 1960s; when it was recorded that up to 82% of the population dreamed in color. Research conducted at the University of Dundee on REM awakening found that 20% of those over 64 still dream in black and white, compared to those under 30 who only 4% do.
There are universal dreams
Some dreams are common to all humans. A lot of dreams are influenced by each person’s personal experiences, but strange as it is, researchers have revealed that there are certain recurring themes in our dreams, regardless of cultural differences.
For example, it seems that all of us dream of being chased, of being attacked or of falling into the void. Other universal dreams are experiences in the field of school, feeling immobile, or the shame of being naked in public.
Today is World Sleep Day; and we must remember the importance of good rest for our health, sleep the necessary hours and get “a regular sleep for a healthy future.”
Piriana quilts and cushions, made with sheep’s wool
At Pirilana we care about your rest, that is why we are specialists in Merino wool bedding. If you want to know how it can help you sleep better visit our website.
Pirilana is the wool of your dreams, take care of your health taking care of your rest.
6 surprising curiosities about sleep
We all sleep, but … how much do we really know about sleep?
Much of what happens while we sleep remains a mystery: the reasons we need to sleep, the reasons why lack of sleep harms our health, and why we dream remain research topics that do not yet have a definitive answer.
Today we tell you 6 surprising curiosities about sleep that you may not have known.
Sleep is a crucial biological process; essential determinant of human health and performance. While not all functions of sleep are fully understood, it is known to restore energy, promote healing, interact with the immune system, and impact both brain function and behavior.
We all know its importance but; did you know…
A student from San Diego underwent this experiment in 1964, since then officially there is no evidence of having exceeded this time. The student himself claimed that he would not repeat the experiment.
If we have fallen asleep before it is because our excess of fatigue has influenced it, and if we take longer there are multiple factors that may also be affecting the correct rest. Here we tell you what it can affect your good rest and what you can do about it.
Matthew Walker, professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley and author of the book “Why we sleep” says that dreaming “provides a calming night balm that polishes our emotional experiences so that we feel better the next day.” These deep dreams occur during the REM phase and especially in the morning before waking up; and although we do not remember it, we will have had more than one dream per night.
Our brain is not capable of inventing new faces, which does not mean that we know these people, but it does mean that we have seen them even for only seconds.
Well, television can have a lot to do with it. Before the invention of television in 1915, people claimed to dream in color. It was with the advent of the black and white television that 20% of the population began to dream in black and white as well. That trend changed again with the advent of color television in the 1960s; when it was recorded that up to 82% of the population dreamed in color. Research conducted at the University of Dundee on REM awakening found that 20% of those over 64 still dream in black and white, compared to those under 30 who only 4% do.
Some dreams are common to all humans. A lot of dreams are influenced by each person’s personal experiences, but strange as it is, researchers have revealed that there are certain recurring themes in our dreams, regardless of cultural differences.
For example, it seems that all of us dream of being chased, of being attacked or of falling into the void. Other universal dreams are experiences in the field of school, feeling immobile, or the shame of being naked in public.
Today is World Sleep Day; and we must remember the importance of good rest for our health, sleep the necessary hours and get “a regular sleep for a healthy future.”
Piriana quilts and cushions, made with sheep’s wool
At Pirilana we care about your rest, that is why we are specialists in Merino wool bedding. If you want to know how it can help you sleep better visit our website.
Pirilana is the wool of your dreams, take care of your health taking care of your rest.