NOVA:MysteriesofSleepLikevirtuallyeveryotheranimal,humansneedsleeptosurviveButwhyWhatdowegainfromspendingnearlyathirdofourlivesinsuchadefenselessstateAndwhat'satstakeifwesleeppoorlyThefunctionsofsleephavelongbeensomethingofamysteryButnowscientistsarepeeringdeepintothebraintoseewhathappenswhilewesnoozeOnestudyrevealsthatwelltimedburstsofpinknoisecannudgeaperson'sbrainwaves,extendingperiodsofslowwave,ordeep,sleepAndtoddlerslearningnewwordsshowthattakingevenashortnapafterlearningsomethingnewcanhelptheinformationstickAndwhenitcomestosleepingpoorly,itmayturnoutthathavinginterruptedsleepcanbejustasharmfulasmissingsleepaltogetherAsscientistscometounderstandthepowerfulrolethatsleeporlackofitplaysineverythingfrommemorytotraumatoemotionregulation,onethingisclear:Thisbiologicalfunctionisascrucialasitiscomplex