The science of sleep

Do you really think you can do with 5 hours of sleep?

Restricted sleep is a growing problem in our modern 24/7 society. For many people sleep is something they do with the time that is left when all our waking duties and desires are fulfilled. Some people even consider it a waste of time and try to skimp on sleep as much as possible. But what is sleep? And what are its functions? And could not sleeping enough ultimately make you sick? During this lecture I will present the latest views and debates on the importance of sleep for brain function, and I will also address how sleep loss may sensitize us for diseases, including psychiatric disorders such as depression.

Peter Meerlo is a neuroscientist and assistant professor in chronobiology at the University of Groningen. The central topic of his research is sleep, with an emphasis on: 1) the role of sleep in brain function and memory processes; and 2) the consequences of chronically restricted and disrupted sleep for health and well-being.