Sleep and its possible role in learning: a phylogenetic view.
A fascinating but still partly unsolved scientific question is to understand the function/s of sleep. Many hypotheses have been proposed, and in this review I focus on the idea that sleep has a role in supporting brain plasticity, learning and memory. Although the majority of sleep research is concentrated on vertebrates, especially humans and mammals, sleep-like behaviour is also evident in some invertebrates. Though surprisingly there are very few studies that have directly tested if there is a mechanistic link between sleep and plasticity. I argue that a phylogenetic approach gives potential insight into the mechanisms and roles of sleep, by allowing an analysis by comparison of the evolution of sleep and rest/activity cycles in organisms showing radically different lifestyles and brain plans. This review attempts to set the scene for a much more profound analysis of these issues using phylogenetic tools.
Piscopo
Stefania
S
Lab. of Animal Physiology and Evolution, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn,80121 Napoli, Italy. piscopo@szn.it
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D010802:Phylogeny; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*