Member-only story
The Social Power of Sleep
Sleep isn’t just good for your health — it’s good for society
Physical exhaustion and diminished concentration are familiar to everyone, but sleep deprivation may impact social behavior too. Sociality isn’t just important for meeting people and making friends; it underlies many of the most revered activities in modern society, from voting in elections to helping people in need. The study of sleep may therefore give a fresh perspective on the best and worst instincts of humanity.
In U.S. surveys covering over 300,000 adults between 1985 and 2012, the number of adults sleeping six hours or less increased by 31%, with the most dramatic changes occurring before 2004. Six hours’ shut-eye isn’t enough. The National Sleep Foundation, after evaluating all available evidence with a panel of experts in 2015, recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night for adults to maintain optimal health and functioning.
Research has shown that a lack of sleep can hinder cognitive function — especially the basic processes of alertness and attention — by introducing lapses in the firing patterns of brain cells.
Sleep deprivation also impacts the human body more globally, with links to physical health issues such as obesity and high blood pressure. General sleep disturbances, reflecting both too much…
