Science with Mandy

You’re certainly familiar with the concept of sleep. Thinking about sleep may conjure images of your comfortable pillow, your favorite stuffed animal, a glass of warm milk, or the starry night sky. But have you ever stopped to wonder why we need sleep in the first place?

Sleep is controlled by your body’s circadian rhythm, or sleep/wake cycle. One of the most well-known molecules involved in regulating the circadian rhythm in humans is melatonin (you may have heard of people taking melatonin supplements at night before bed to help them sleep better); melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland, a gland in your brain, that has been referred to as the “hormone of darkness” due to its increased production during dark conditions (1). (Interesting factoid: melatonin is made from serotonin, a very important and well-known neurotransmitter involved in mood, appetite, memory, and other important functions [2].) Various factors can affect melatonin production, and thus the onset of sleepiness, including things like exposure to blue light (generated by electronic devices like your phone), certain health conditions, intake of specific medications, and others (3,4).

Proper sleep is important for many of the body’s normal functions. Without adequate sleep, your immune system is affected, which can cause a greater likelihood of illness. Poor sleep can also cause metabolic disturbances and impaired cognition (5). People of different ages need different amounts of sleep each night, but the fact still stands that sleep is important!

Side note: the information provided in this post is not meant to replace information and/or advice from a qualified healthcare professional. 

Works Cited

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4334454/#:~:text=Melatonin%20is%20a%20hormone%20secreted,various%20diseases%20particularly%20sleep%20disorders.
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5864293/#:~:text=The%20behavioral%20and%20neuropsychological%20processes,is%20not%20regulated%20by%20serotonin.
3. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side
4. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23411-melatonin
5. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/why-sleep-important