Human Body Parts That Take a Nightly Vacation

April 16, 2024

Brain

During sleep, your brain goes through distinct stages, allowing for memory consolidation, emotional processing, and cellular repair . Brain wave activity slows down significantly, allowing your body to conserve energy.

Overall muscle activity decreases dramatically during sleep, promoting relaxation and tissue repair. However, occasional muscle twitches, called hypnagogic jerks, can occur.

Muscles

Your eyelids close to protect your eyes and prevent them from drying out. Interestingly, even in darkness, the eyes aren't completely inactive and may flicker rapidly during REM sleep.

Eyes

Blood flow to the skin decreases during sleep, leading to a drop in body temperature. This is why feeling a bit chilly before bed is common.

Skin

Digestion slows down considerably during sleep. However, some digestive processes like stomach acid production continue at a low level.

Digestive System