Version 1
: Received: 24 August 2024 / Approved: 26 August 2024 / Online: 27 August 2024 (13:12:56 CEST)
Version 2
: Received: 29 October 2024 / Approved: 30 October 2024 / Online: 1 November 2024 (14:50:19 CET)
How to cite:
Spinassi, R. The Sentinel Sleep Theory: Unweaving The Biological Function of REM Sleep. Preprints2024, 2024081867. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.1867.v2
Spinassi, R. The Sentinel Sleep Theory: Unweaving The Biological Function of REM Sleep. Preprints 2024, 2024081867. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.1867.v2
Spinassi, R. The Sentinel Sleep Theory: Unweaving The Biological Function of REM Sleep. Preprints2024, 2024081867. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.1867.v2
APA Style
Spinassi, R. (2024). The Sentinel Sleep Theory: Unweaving The Biological Function of REM Sleep. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.1867.v2
Chicago/Turabian Style
Spinassi, R. 2024 "The Sentinel Sleep Theory: Unweaving The Biological Function of REM Sleep" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.1867.v2
Abstract
The biological function of rapid eye movement (or REM) sleep—one of the great mysteries of neuroscience and evolutionary biology—remains unknown. Here, I demonstrate that the biological function of REM sleep is to heighten brain alertness, significantly reducing the high vulnerability of deep sleep. Every organism with a nervous system must undergo deep sleep: a necessity that comes with substantial vulnerability. Deep sleep, by lowering alertness, compromises the organism's safety, putting its survival at risk. Therefore, REM sleep is a necessary adaptation for any organism that must sleep. My primary goal here is to present a comprehensive conceptual framework—supported by extensive empirical evidence—to connect numerous disparate empirical findings under a unified theory of the biological function of REM sleep. Additionally, I also provide a historical narrative to explain its origin and subsequent evolution. To test the theory, I drew on a substantial body of evidence and testable hypotheses. All hypotheses capable of empirical verification were corroborated, revealing that the theory is widely corroborated. Furthermore, it also resisted numerous attempts at refutation. All of this allows me to claim that I solved this great enigma of science. In addition to solving one of the biggest theoretical problems in neuroscience and evolutionary biology, my article will change the way REM sleep research is planned and carried out.
Biology and Life Sciences, Neuroscience and Neurology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
