Perhaps if we eventually lived in a world where sleep could be eliminated, and we could experience stimulation of our senses around the clock, would sleep be something that would be missed? We could get so much more done; perhaps hold down two or three jobs, but would life be better? Has sleep gotten a bad rap because it is often viewed as unproductive time? It is not surprising considering that, to the average individual, it appears to be simply lying in a state of unconsciousness for 8 hours. When you are looking at time to borrow from, one would be hard pressed not to single out this behavior as a prime candidate.
Setting aside any physical requirement for the moment, what about the enjoyment aspect? Does sleep really impart some pleasure for us, or does it just seem like wasted time? Perhaps there is something soothing about the quietness of evening after the commotion of the day has subsided, and you get to enjoy just doing nothing except snuggling in the comfort of your bed, and listening to soft music while you explore your subconscious. One could apply the same rationale to eating. Would we miss the pleasure of eating if we could just take a pill and satisfy the physical requirement?
In the B.T. era (Before television), and even before the invention of the light bulb, our previous generation logged in an average of 10 hours of sleep per night. In contrast, today's world is a 24 hr. society with no off button. The world of night and day that used to be so different has now become one where the boundaries have been erased. Computers are on 24 hours a day, and even the stock market can now be traded around the clock. Life is now a continuous stream of sensory overload with no likely end in sight. If science can rescue us from sleep's demands, will we give in and sacrifice our faithful nocturnal companion that has breathed new life into our species every night for millions of years?
Science has endeavored to dissect sleep for hundreds of years now, and one thing all investigators can agree on is that it is mysterious. When one journeys across the sleep barrier at night, there are no notes that may be brought back to reveal the experience except for the possible dream memory, which only accounts for a small portion of the voyage. Many complicated and intricate devices have been strapped to subjects in an effort to study the body's feedback as the wanderer makes his way through the sleep wilderness. This quest to find answers has not been in vain, however, much to our dismay, it is still not clear why we do it. Many theories exist, but given the vast complexity of the brain and body, none can explain everything.
So what about it makes the most sense? Perhaps we may be thinking that because all the intricate parts are complicated, that the explanation of the behavior must be also. Granted that the answer cannot be as simple as "Because we enjoy it", due to the obvious fact that we cannot will ourselves to stay awake indefinitely. As formidable as we think we are, whether we give our consent or not, our brain will still pull the plug, and sleep will have it's way. In fact, if we are severely sleep deprived, the basic need to sleep actually becomes an even stronger force than avoiding our impending demise. Once in the grip of sleep, our body is empowered to accomplish the various assignments that cannot be completed while we are awake. If so, evolution would have devised a way to manage this maintenance without subjecting us to the vulnerable state of unconsciousness with predators on the prowl. Sleep Scientists fortunately have been able to reveal many of the gifts imparted to us during our visit with the Sandman, such as the shoring up of the immune system, release of growth hormones, conservation of energy, and recuperation of the central nervous system, to name a few.
If you have ever been around someone who has gone without sleep for a day or so, it should come as no surprise that they are not operating at peak efficiency. The concentration is not there, energy is lacking, and problem solving as well as making decisions is indeed a struggle, not to mention the less than stellar mood. While this may only be a less than satisfactory day at the office, it can mean the difference of life and death to animals and organisms, since it often involves securing food, surviving contests, and battling the elements. At the risk of over-simplification, this most likely has a lot to do with why we sleep; simply because it enables us to be a more efficient life form. With that in mind, the answer to the question of whether sleep is important may not be as critical as when it faced our predecessors, but without a doubt, adequate sleep has a great deal to do with your quality of life. If you don't want to look older than you really are, risk your life while driving, or have a depleted immune system, and a host of other maladies that threaten the survival of the fittest, then you may want to indulge. Besides, there is virtually nothing on the market today, no matter what the cost, that can do for you what sleep does, and best of all, its free!
As for the enjoyment, barring any medical condition, or sleep disorder, if you don't find any pleasure in it, perhaps you are doing it wrong.
For more information about sleep, go to [http://www.sleepdimension.com]
Bob Krug
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