What do brain cells do when we sleep? A journey with Zellis and Neuro-Nora

Dear diary,

I learnt something very interesting today! I was talking to my friend Neuro-Nora, the brain cell, about sleep. She told me what happens in the brain cells during sleep.

Neuro-Nora said that sleep is divided into different phases: light sleep, deep sleep and REM sleep. Each phase has a specific task.

In deep sleep, the cells repair and renew themselves. Broken parts are mended and new parts are built. This also happens with all other cells in the body. It's like a workshop where everything is put back in order.

Neuro-Nora told me that the brain gets rid of all waste products during deep sleep. It's like a big tidy-up where harmful substances are disposed of. This keeps the brain clean and functional.

During REM sleep, the brain becomes very active. Neuro-Nora explained that during this phase, our dreams are created and information that our human has collected during the day is transferred from short-term to long-term memory - similar to a computer that stores data so that it can be retrieved later.

During sleep, the brain not only recovers, but also lays the foundation for efficient learning and memory. Neuro-Nora emphasised how important these processes are for daytime functionality. Even though we may not dream as simple cells, we benefit immensely from the rest, renewal and regeneration that sleep allows us to achieve.

Sleep well, dear diary!

Stay cell-fresh,

Zellis