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Sleep: Benefits of a Good Night's Sleep

By Darien Simon, M.S.

Sleep is required for survival. Many different healthy and beneficial activities occur during restful sleep. Neurons may repair themselves, or dispose of the accumulation of toxins from daily activity. Sleep may permit the brain to exercise rarely used neural connections to prevent their deterioration. During deep sleep, the bodies of children and adolescents release growth hormone, and everyone's cells increase protein production and reduce the breakdown of protein, compared to waking, or the other stages of sleep. Protein is what cells are built of, and what cells use to repair both the damage done by daily living, as well as to continue, or increase the healing of any damage from illness or injury. Deep sleep is also when certain parts of the brain are significantly less active than at other times. In particular, the parts of the brain involved in emotions, making decisions, and in regulating social behavior decrease their activity during deep sleep. However, some brain activity patterns associated with daytime activities also repeat themselves at night during sleep. One reason for this may be to enhance memory and learning. In addition to deep sleep, there are benefits from REM sleep, as well. Like deep sleep, REM sleep is a time of increased protein production and decreased protein breakdown. It also stimulates portions of the brain related to learning. There are also less tangible benefits of a good night's sleep, such as an even temperament, a lack of moodiness, energy to handle the tasks of the day, and a general feeling of wellbeing.