4 Brain Uses More Energy
The majority of energy produced while awake (about 80 percent) is used by various physical activities such as movement, breathing, and speaking. While asleep, this energy is obviously not being used and the “energy surplus” is diverted to the brain.This means that the brain’s energy consumption is actually higher in certain stages of sleep, such as REM, than it is while awake.
This energy is put to good use, completing secretarial tasks that are backlogged while awake, such as creating and strengthening neural connections and removing waste products.The brain is too busy during the day with more urgent and energy-hungry tasks like decision-making for these other activities to occur. During sleep, however, the brain has some “free time” to tidy up.
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