Artemy Alcala | The Science of Sleep: Why Your Brain Needs It More Than You Think
The Science of Sleep: Why Your Brain Needs It More Than You Think In an age where productivity often overshadows well-being, sleep has become one of the most undervalued pillars of health. Many people wear sleep deprivation like a badge of honor, equating less rest with more achievement. However, modern neuroscience and sleep research paint a very different picture. Sleep is not wasted time; it's one of the most vital, restorative, and intelligent things the brain can do for itself. What Sleep Really Does for the Brain Sleep is not merely a passive state of rest — it's a period of intense neurological activity. During sleep, the brain engages in memory consolidation, emotional processing, cellular repair, and toxin removal. Without proper sleep, these essential processes are disrupted, leading to significant cognitive, emotional, and physiological consequences. According to Walker (2017), deep sleep plays a critical role in converting short-term memories into long-term stor...