We spend nearly a third of our lives asleep – a need we share with virtually every other animal on the planet. But what is sleep? And why is it so essential to our survival? Documentary Mysteries Of Sleep (Monday 24th August, 8.05pm) attempts to uncover the functions of sleep, and what exactly happens when we aren’t awake.
From regulating our emotions to helping toddlers learn new words, sleep plays a powerful role in our lives. And there is evidence that interrupted sleep can be just as harmful as no sleep at all. As scientists uncover the powerful role sleep plays in our lives, one thing is certain: it’s a biological function that is as crucial to our survival as it is complex.