The Nights of Our Lives: Why We Sleep and Dream

Alvin Sherman Library, Second Floor Gallery

We spend approximately one third of our lives asleep and require sleep to stay alive—chronic sleep deprivation is fatal. Sleep has been rigorously studied over the last 60 years; however, the function of sleep and dreams remains elusive. This is in part because sleep is a complex state of consciousness involving many interconnected neurochemical and anatomical systems. This lecture will review the current knowledge about what happens in a sleeping brain and the consequences of sleep deprivation. In particular, Tartar will discuss the role of sleep in memory consolidation, emotion processing, hormone regulation, and immune functioning.