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Sleep quality and mental capacity

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Archie Heron
Sleep quality and mental capacity

It is often underestimated, usually treated only as a pleasant moment of innocent rest, while sleep, because it is mentioned, is one of the basic processes that take place in our body and are necessary for its proper functioning.

It is often underestimated, usually treated only as a pleasant moment of innocent rest, while sleep, because it is mentioned, is one of the basic processes that take place in our body and are necessary for its proper functioning.

Regeneration of the brain

Sleep is a state in which the central nervous system is completely disconnected from its work. Suppression of nervous system activity is a state necessary to start the renewal process. When the brain is dormant, it is cleansed of toxins and fully regenerated, during which the information and experiences "collected" by the brain during the day are organized. This is an essential process that prepares our nervous system for the proper functioning of the next day, guaranteeing high quality cognitive and mental activity, and has a beneficial effect on our memory and concentration.

Thus, sleep is a process that guarantees complete physical and mental recovery. However, for our body to undergo full regeneration, thanks to which it will be filled with energy to function properly, we need a certain number of hours of sleep.

The course of sleep and the importance of its stages

The sleep process can be divided into certain stages. The NREM state starts the sleep process. This stage is characterized by calmness and a decrease in the frequency of waves resulting from mind activity. NREM is divided into four phases, which follow each other. These are separated by the activity of the mind during sleep. The NREM begins Phase 1, otherwise known as Wake Up, which lasts about a dozen minutes. This is a kind of prelude to proper sleep. It is at this stage that the process of receiving stimuli begins to gradually fade away. The next phases are characterized by an increasing slowdown in the activity of the nervous system, so that in phase four, it is almost completely stopped. It is at this point that the process of regeneration of cells takes place, which ensures mental fitness, repairing brain damage. This is why it is so important that the temporal amount of sleep should ensure that it falls into this phase. Not reaching this sleep stage prevents complete regeneration.

The fourth phase turns into the so-called REM state, during which there is a high level of motor activity of the eyeballs. This is the sleeping stage, during which dreams also occur. At this stage of sleep, complete relaxation and relaxed muscles take place, thanks to which our body undergoes the regeneration process. The states of NREM and REM, follow each other cyclically.

Sleep deprivation - consequences

Inadequate amount of sleep, causes some disorders in the proper functioning of our body. First of all, our concentration, ability to focus and our memory are limited. Sleep deprivation can also cause emotional disorders, resulting in depressive states. Slower reactions and weakened physical and physical abilities are noticeable. Studies have also shown that sleep deprivation is linked to a decrease in white blood cells, which in turn turns into an impairment of the immune system.

Sleep is therefore one of the most important processes that take place in our body and which condition its proper functioning. It regenerates both the body, physical abilities, as well as psychological and mental. The value of sleep should not be underestimated.

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Archie Heron
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