Seals only sleep with half a brain

Research by Biology Professor John Peever and colleagues at the University of Toronto (Canada) and University of California (USA) has identified several types of chemicals in the brain of seals to help them sleep half of the brain, explained. about biological phenomena rarely seen in this animal.

Scientists say when seals sleep in the water, they can only sleep the left half of the brain while the right side of the brain stays awake. While on the shore, seals sleep normally like humans.

This study helps explain the biological mechanism that allows the brain to remain awake during sleep. At the same time, the discovery also helps scientists understand more about chemical functions to maintain awareness or help people sleep better while insomnia - a common disease of humankind.

At the shore, seals sleep normally.

When measuring the change of different chemicals on both sides of the sleep and wake in the seals' brains, the team found that the key chemical in the brain was acetylcholine low on the side of the brain to sleep and high in in the brain. This finding shows that acetylcholine can control alertness in the brain.

The study also found that another important brain chemical, serotonin, is present almost equally on both sides of the sleep and wake of the brain. This is a surprising discovery because it has been thought for a long time that it is serotonin that maintains awareness for the brain.

The study was published in the Journal of Neuroscience in February 2013.