Asked by: Sarah Cooper, Manchester
Too much stimulation of your brain cells can lead to neurotoxicity, which is dangerous, and so one tentative theory holds that sleep is a chance for the brain to enter a detox mode in which overall levels of neural excitability are reduced.
Sleep also helps the brain to learn, although the precise physiological processes that underlie this benefit are still being worked out. This means that after you’ve spent time revising or learning a new skill, it’s very important that you get a good night’s sleep. Doing so will help your brain to consolidate the neural connections that underlie new memories.
Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.
Latest
SpaceX Starlink The controversial satellite constellation
You are not alone Understanding the epidemic of chronic loneliness
