Brain Sleep

Sleep has been a big issue over the last few days – and it’s reinforced to me the impact of sleep on the brain. The result was that by yesterday I was suffering from sleep deprivation. It’s a bit better today but not much.

This whole thing started on Friday when we had some people visiting for the weekend – little people. The little people slept OK, but had various coughs which disturbed the sleep pattern of the rest of the household. On Sunday the little people went home and I prepared for an early start on Monday.

There is something about an early start that means that I never get a good night of sleep before it.

Not only was Monday an early start it was a long day. The result was that I didn’t properly relax before going to bed – another night of sleep sub-standard sleep.

Last night Sue started with the cold that she was gifted to her by the little people.

I would love to have been able to measure my productivity yesterday afternoon. I am glad that I don’t operate heavy or dangerous machinery because I was in no fit state. I felt like someone had entered my head and moved everything around so that I could no longer find them. Writing was incredibly difficult, each word that would normally be within easy reach was off in some deep archive.

Yesterday’s experience demonstrated the acute impact of short-term sleep deprivation, but long term mild deprivation can have an even more devastating impact. From Making a Good Brain Great:

“Getting less than six hours of sleep at night decreases our ability to fight stress. Research has shown that people who consistently get less sleep than others have overall decreased brain function. Inadequate sleep may promote insulin resistance: compared with those who sleep seven and a half to eight hours at night. Those who get fewer than six and a half hours secrete 50 percent more insulin and are 40 percent less sensitive to insulin. Lowered sleep has been associated with diabetes and obesity. In our fast-paced society, we are often sleep deprived. In 1910 adults got an average of nine hours of sleep each night; in 1975 it had decreased to seven and a half; and in 2000 it has decreased further, to seven hours.”

Looking forward to a good night of sleep tonight.

(Steve: one of these days I will remember to return your book)