The Brain & Memory
Which structure in the brain acts as the "inbox" for new memories?
The Hippocampus
Men who sleep 5 hours a night have significantly smaller... what?
Testicles
What global "experiment" involving 1.6 billion people proves the link between sleep and heart attacks?
Daylight Saving Time
What is the ideal temperature for a bedroom to facilitate sleep?
Around 65°F (18°C) / Cool
Matt Walker says sleep is not for the weak, it is your...
Superpower
By what percentage does the ability to make new memories drop after one sleepless night?
40%
A lack of sleep ages a man’s testosterone levels by approximately how many years?
10 years
When we lose one hour of sleep in the Spring, heart attacks increase by this percentage the next day.
24%
Besides temperature, what is the single most important tip for better sleep?
Regularity (Go to bed and wake up at the same time)
Sleep is described as the "Swiss Army Knife" of...
Health
During deep sleep, brain waves transfer memories from the hippocampus to this part of the brain.
The Cortex (Long-term storage)
What is the name of the immune cells that eliminate cancer/tumor cells?
Natural Killer cells
When we gain one hour of sleep in the Autumn, heart attacks decrease by this percentage.
21%
Does alcohol help you sleep better?
No (It fragments sleep and blocks REM/dream sleep)
"The shorter your sleep, the shorter your..."
Life
The lack of deep sleep is strongly linked to the buildup of beta-amyloid, a protein associated with this disease.
Alzheimer's disease
After one night of 4 hours of sleep, Natural Killer cell activity drops by this much.
70%
In the gene experiment, how many genes were distorted/changed after a week of 6 hours of sleep?
711 genes
True or False: You can "catch up" on lost sleep during the weekend.
False (Sleep is not a bank)
Without sleep, the brain's memory inbox becomes like a...
Waterlogged sponge (it can't absorb any more)
What are the bursts of electrical activity called that transfer memories during deep sleep?
Sleep spindles
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified this type of work as a probable carcinogen.
Night shift work
What happens to genes associated with the promotion of tumors and inflammation when you don't sleep?
They are up-regulated (increased activity)
What physiological reason makes it harder to sleep when it is too warm?
Your body temperature needs to drop (by about 2-3°F) to initiate sleep
Sleep is the most powerful "Elixir of..."
Life