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Sleep is one of the most essential elements in maintaining human life. Given its importance, it would seem logical to think that we would try to devote more time to it, but the opposite is unfortunately true.
People too often have trouble sleeping or even jumping. It may be for this reason that a whole range of products, from innovative sleep sensors to smart salt lamps, have been developed to help us improve the quality of our nighttime rest.
However, according to a team of scientists, there may be even more reasons to fall asleep and fall asleep! It seems that bears may not be the only animals to benefit from sleepy sleep called hibernation.
These researchers believe so much in sleep that they are interested in pooling their knowledge to find ways to reproduce hibernation based on some of the benefits of preserving the energy they feel they provide. (Before our readers are too excited, it seems appropriate to point out that the researchers do not suggest we cash out our annual leave and take a nap for weeks on end.)
A meeting of the spirits
Experts met yesterday in New Orleans at a conference hosted by the American Physiological Society (APS). At the conference Comparative Physiology: Complexity and Integration, they specifically addressed the hibernation and the state of great inactivity called torpor.
The torpor is defined by the scientists of the Encyclopedia of animal behavior as a "temporary drop in body temperature and metabolic rate often accompanied by a lack of food or urination / defecation, is an adaptation of endothermic vertebrates that allows them to survive the energy requirements of cold room temperature" .
At the Symposium "Taking Advantage of Naturally Evolved Torpor to Promote Human Spaceflight", a lively discussion took place on the interactions between the brain and a synthetic form of torpor, as well as the possibility of using it one day. from health care to energy conversations to astronauts traveling to space.
The benefits of traveling in space
"A synthetic torpor could protect astronauts from space-related health hazards and at the same time reduce space, mass and power requirements of spacecraft," said Matthew Regan, PhD, also of the School of Medicine. from the University of Wisconsin and co-chair of the symposium.
And the growing body of research seems to agree. In a study of astronauts 'low metabolic rates during space missions due to dramatic decreases in severity levels, a team of scientists explored opportunities to find ways to reduce astronauts' energy requirements by inducing a metabolic rate. hypometabolic or considerably inferior. .
The only blind spot for researchers is not to have a sufficient understanding of the role played by the nervous system during torpor. "For an animal to go into torpor, the rapid pallidus neurons must be inhibited," explained Matteo Cerri, MD and PhD from the University of Bologna in Italy. "If the function in these cells is not removed," their activity will counteract the hypothermia induced by the torpor. "
Becoming an astronaut requires a lot of study and physical as well as mental preparation. Add to that the effects that the weightless environment can have on the body, so we understand why the research and development strategies discussed by scientists such as those who came together for the symposium are so important. But needless to say, this is a good start that will perhaps allow us one day to see us on Mars asleep!
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