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Sleep protects.
A species' sleep pattern suits its ecological niche. It was safer for us to sleep at night than hunt.
Sleep helps us recuperate.
Sleep helps to restore and repair brain tissue. Neurons can repair themselves and weaken unused connections.
Sleep helps restore and rebuild our memories of the day's experiences.
It strengthens and stabilizes neural memory traces.
Sleep feeds creative thinking.
A complete night's sleep can boost our thinking and learning and make us more insightful.
Sleep supports growth.
During deep sleep, the pituitary gland releases a growth hormone necessary for muscle development.
FUNCTIONS OF SLEEP