Why Do We Sleep? Four Centuries of Scientific Answers

Yoan Chérasse, a researcher at the International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS) at the University of Tsukuba, provides an overview of sleep science. The lecture traces the evolution of sleep understanding from antiquity to modern neuroscience, highlighting significant breakthroughs in biology. The presentation examines current research on neurochemical circuits regulating the sleep-wake cycle and the impact of nutrition on sleep quality, reflecting a decade of study into the underlying mechanisms and potential improvements for human rest.