Browsed by
Category: sleep

Mental Map

Mental Map

Comments 0 Comment

What wakes the mind before the body is ready? Does sleep’s string snag on
a jagged dream?  Whatever the cause, suddenly thoughts are spinning again.

There is only so much one can do when
unconscious. Best to seek its return as quickly as possible. Shift from back to
side, flip the pillow to find its cool undercoat. Seek the trail of breadcrumbs back to oblivion.

As Hansel and Gretel discovered, though, breadcrumbs are not reliable. Pebbles work better. They
gleam in the dark; they light the way home. 
Best of all, though, is to memorize the
way. To have a mental map and follow it.
Cleaning Up

Cleaning Up

Comments 0 Comment

As one who routinely gives short shrift to sleep, cutting corners whenever possible, I read the newspaper article with great interest. Reporting on a study published in the journal Science, the article said that new imaging techniques have allowed researchers to better understand how the brain cleans cells during sleep.

Apparently, the space between cells expands while we’re snoozing — which gives a network that drains cellular waste from the brain more space to flush out the toxins.When we sleep less, the brain can’t go about this housekeeping function as efficiently — and toxins build up. No wonder my head feels foggy the morning after I’ve slept five hours or less.

This finding explains the restorative nature of sleep and may also help scientists better understand Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

All I know is, I’ve gone to bed earlier and slept later ever since I read the article. And that’s a good thing.