salt levels in the brain determine sleep cycle

[bobby]

too bad eating more salt is not the answer.

http://sciencenewsjournal.com/amount-salt-brain-determines-sleep-cycles/

The salt balance actually decides whether or not our sleep will be disrupted from say, a touch or a sound. When the body is awake, salt balances cause neurons to be very sensitive to all sorts of stimulations. During the nighttime salt levels change, making it much harder for neurons to be activated. The difference between activation and lack of activity makes a person either wake or remain relaxed.

Makes me wonder if something is up with our salt balance that makes our neurons sensitive all the time? (and makes our sleep cycle out of whack too)

food for thought:

Maiken Nedergaard stresses the importance of viewing the brain as more than a computer because a computer does not require hours of rest each day in order to function properly the following day. He says we need to know a whole lot more than just neurocomputation in order to get a full view of the brain and what makes it tick.

original article: http://science.sciencemag.org/content/352/6285/550

 

[Remy]

Sleep resets salt levels. It's part of why not getting good sleep (or only getting pseudo-sleep with drugs) is so damaging. It's a vicious circle.

FWIW, I think phenytoin might help with this problem.

 

[Cort]

Given my intense desire for salt you've got to wonder if something is up with that.