The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

Increase brain flow by increased sleep

For most of us, the hardest part of the semester is now looming.

Days are filled with studying for exams, preparing presentations or working on group projects.

Long days and nights in the library are in the near future, but it’s important to remember that sleep is a vital part of proper brain function and physical health.

Many people believe that sleeping just six hours each night is sufficient, but studies have shown otherwise.

There is a gene present in some people, which allows them to function properly on just six hours of sleep, according research at the University of California San Francisco.

However, that gene is present in only 3 percent of the population.

More commonly, most adults, around 97 percent, need between seven and a half to nine hours of sleep per night to function at their full potential, according to helpguide.org.

While you sleep, your brain solidifies what you’ve learned that day, while preparing for the day ahead.

Your brain forms new pathways to help you learn and store new information according to the National Institutes of Health.

Studies have also shown that sleep deprivation can change the activity in certain parts of the brain.

Lack of sleep can cause trouble in making decisions, hinder problem solving and affect how you control your emotions, according to Psych-Central.

Sleep also plays an important role in your body’s health. The heart and blood vessels are healed from the day’s activities while you sleep.

Long-term sleep deprivation is associated with heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke, according to the National Institutes of Health. 

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Increase brain flow by increased sleep