The Importance of Sleep

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Exercise 27.
You are going to read an article. Seven paragraphs have been removed. Choose from the
paragraphs A-H the one that fits each gap (37-43). There is one extra paragraph which you
do not need to use.
The importance of sleep

A recent study claims to have found a new explanation for the puzzle that is one of our most
essential biological functions: sleep. Apparently, while we have our forty winks, a 'waste
management' system pumps cerebral fluid around the brain and flushes out molecular detritus, a
natural by-product of neural activity that collects during waking hours. If allowed to pile up,
these waste toxins are responsible for a number of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's.
37.
A
As a biological state, sleep is not restricted to humans. It is essential for every living creature and
tailored to suit their individual lifestyles as a species — from up to 20 hours a day for brown bats
hanging upside down to a 30-minute daily shut-eye for giraffes standing up. Sleep does not,
however, appear to make sense from a survival point of view, as, unable to operate our guards
and with significantly reduced response to external stimuli, we are vulnerable to predators. Yet,
it is hardly a choice for any of us.
38.
D
This is a pattern that nature doesn't let us break. Empirically. we have learnt more about the
effects that are triggered by a lack of sleep than the benefits we derive from it. Understand it or
not, sleep is so vitally important that any deviation from what is within the perceived norms can
impair both our mental and physical health.
39.
H
Experiments on rats have shown that total sleep deprivation for about two weeks or more
inevitably led to death. In known cases where humans were prevented from sleeping, either due
to the existence of a syndrome or other imposed reasons, the body gradually degenerated to the
point of multiple organ failure.
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40.
B
The energy conservation theory: Sleep lowers our energy needs by as much as 10 per cent as
compared to when we are restful and awake because our body reduces both its temperature and
its caloric consumption. This might have been crucial for the survival of our ancestors when food
was not easily available as it gave them the advantage of being more efficient hunters.
41.
E
REM (rapid eye movement), for example, is a deep state of sleep which involves intense brain
activity. It allows us to dream and it accounts for about one fifth of our total sleep time. REM
sleep plays an important role in restoring mental functions. NREM (non-rapid eye movement)
sleep accounts for the remaining four fifths and is conducive to restoring physiological functions.
42.
G
Mental activity during sleep has also been linked to brain plasticity, which is defined as the
brain's ability to modify its own structure and function to reflect changes in our body or the
external environment. There is evidence that sleep plays a critical role in brain development in
infants and young children.
43.
C
Although we have been unable to provide concrete proof for the above theories, it is essential
that we recognise the advances that have been made towards comprehending why we sleep and
the ways in which research has helped us further our understanding of the mechanics of it. The
bottom line is that it might be too simplistic to assume there is a single answer to such a complex
process
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A The study is just another attempt to gain some insight into what makes us humans tick.
Although we have a relatively satisfactory understanding of other life-sustaining activities, such
as eating (to fuel our body with essential nutrients so that it can grow and repair itself) and
drinking water (to keep our 70% topped up), we are still searching for a definitive answer as to
why we need to sleep.
B Up to now many theories have been put forward, including this recent one, but science has yet
to come up with a definitive explanation of why we sleep. Through research and experimentation
we have gained valuable insight into the mechanisms that go to work in our body while we sleep.
We now know that sleep is related to our psychology, physiology, metabolism and digestion.
Let's have a look at a few of these theories.
C Finally, there's the theory that maintains that dreams, which only occur when we sleep, are our
way of coping with our emotions. Although dream research offers many theories of why we
dream, we know that dreams help us do some problem solving, and deal with traumatic
experiences.
D Sleep is controlled and dictated by our internal clock, which, in turn, is regulated by a process
called Circadian rhythm, inherent in all living beings. It's a daily cycle of biological activity
which tells us when it is time to eat, rest or be active. It is set to respond to external stimuli such
as the presence of light, which wakes us up in the morning or the absence of it, which prompts us
to go to bed at night.
E The restorative theory: Sleep gives us the opportunity to do some essential repair work and
'housekeeping'. It is the time when many of the major restorative functions like tissue repair,
muscle growth, protein synthesis and the release of growth hormones take place in our body. The
same goes for our brain. It is important to note that there are two different states of sleep during
which we switch from physical to mental maintenance.
F The scientist cautions that the simple brain of a mouse and the more complex brain of a human
are two different things, and that what is true for one is not necessarily true for the other. It is
important at this stage not to be either too optimistic or too dismissive of new indications but to
continue research until we have enough evidence to form an assumption about its relevance to
the human brain.
G The information consolidation theory: During sleep, and particularly during the first hours
when deep sleep occurs, our brain has the chance to process and consolidate the information it
received the previous day, as well as prepare for the next day. Recently acquired information is
either discarded as useless or committed to our long-term memory. The theory is supported by
research that indicates that sleep deprivation affects our ability to recall and retain information.
H Chronic sleep deprivation, or, in other words, rot enough sleep, which is the most common
complaint, has an adverse effect on our cognitive process, compromises our memory and can
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even make us depressed. It increases the risk of serious illnesses like cardiovascular disease,
diabetes and some forms of cancer or even disease-related mortality.

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The importance of sleep

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