What is Sleep?

"The natural periodic suspension of consciousness during which the powers of the body are restored." (1)
But, there is so much more to it than that! * Even when you seem to be completely inactive, your brain and body are continually working while you sleep.

Discover and Explore!

1. What happens to our bodies during sleep? Why do they follow circadian rhythms ?
2. What happens inside your brain while your are sleeping? Learn the difference between REM and NonREM sleep?
3. People Need Sleep! That's a fact. But Why is Sleep Essential? How Much Sleep is Necessary?

Not all of these questions have definitive answers. But let's explore what we do know.

Interact!

• Pillow Talk - Learn the meaning of sleep idiomatic expressions of various languages, as well as quotations. Feel free to add your own!
• Sleep in the News - Monitor current events relating to sleep including economic impact, sociological aspects, research, discoveries, accidents, and more! You can even enter in your own sleep news report!
• In the Mood for Sleep - Brainstorm references to sleep in literature, music, and visual arts. Add more references to our growing list of "Sleep in the Arts." Listen to some traditional or original lullabies..

All of this and more can be accessed from our Interactive Section:
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How much do you know?

• Sleep Crossword Puzzles - Test your knowledge on sleep.

* In an attempt to better understand all these sleep-related terms, please check out our glossary. As you visit different pages throughout this site, glossary terms will be indicated by this icon: .