8 Fascinating Things We Learned About Sleep In 2015

Arianna Huffington has shared the big idea that she thinks will define 2016 -- and it's probably not what you would expect.  "Sleep. That's right, sleep!" Huffington wrote in a Dec. 16 blog post. "How much and how well we sleep in the coming year -- and the years to follow -- will determine, in no small measure, our ability to address and solve the problems we're facing as individuals and as a society."  As more individuals wake up to the importance of sleep, scientists are continuing to learn more about the mechanics of sleep and the necessity of a good night's rest for physical and mental health, productivity, cognitive function, psychological well-being and longevity.  These major findings in the field of sleep research provide a fascinating glimpse into the role of sleep in our lives -- and represent an important step toward addressing sleep deprivation. Here are eight of the most important things we learned about the science of sleep this year.  1. Smartphones are messing with our sleep.  One-third of Americans check their phones within five minutes of going to bed, according to a recent survey -- and that's bad news for their sleep.  If you're among the 71 percent of Americans who sleep with or next to their smartphones, know this: A study published in January in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that using light-emitting electronic devices before bedtime can cause it to take longer to fall asl...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news