Sleep Ecophysiology: Integrating Neuroscience and Ecology.
Here, we propose an original approach to explain one of the great unresolved questions in animal biology: what is the function of sleep? Existing ecological and neurological approaches to this question have become roadblocks to an answer. Ecologists typically treat sleep as a simple behavior, instead of a heterogeneous neurophysiological state, while neuroscientists generally fail to appreciate the critical insights offered by the consideration of ecology and evolutionary history. Redressing these shortfalls requires cross-disciplinary integration. By bringing together aspects of behavioral ecology, evolution, and conservation with neurophysiology, we can achieve a more comprehensive understanding of sleep, including its implications for adaptive waking behavior and fitness.
The University of Melbourne, School of BioSciences, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Anne E
AE
Aulsebrook
The University of Melbourne, School of BioSciences, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Therésa M
TM
Jones
Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Avian Sleep Group, Seewiesen, Germany.
Niels C
NC
Rattenborg
Franklin and Marshall College, Department of Psychology, Lancaster, PA, USA.
Timothy C
TC
Roth
La Trobe University, School of Life Sciences, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: j.lesku@latrobe.edu.au.
John A
JA
Lesku
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004463:Ecology; D006801:Humans; D012890:Sleep; D014851:Wakefulness
animal behavior; electroencephalogram; predation risk; rapid eye movement sleep; sleep function; slow wave sleep