How Do We Know We’re Tired?

The video explores the mystery of sleep, focusing on circadian rhythms and homeostatic sleep pressure. It highlights the role of DNA damage in neurons, which accumulates during the day and is repaired during sleep. Scientists hypothesize that this damage increases sleep pressure, making us feel tired. Experiments on zebrafish larvae, which have similar sleep regulation systems to humans, show that DNA damage leads to increased sleep. The study also examines the role of the Parp One protein in detecting DNA damage and regulating sleep. The findings have implications for understanding sleep's role in neurodegenerative diseases and aging.

What are the two main factors that influence our sleep patterns?

• Light exposure and diet

• Circadian rhythm and homeostatic sleep pressure

• DNA damage and cell repair

• Neuronal activity and brain waves

What hypothesis did scientists in Israel test regarding sleep pressure?

• Sleep pressure is caused by lack of exercise

• DNA damage in neurons increases sleep pressure

• Sleep pressure is solely determined by circadian rhythm

• Sleep pressure is unrelated to DNA damage

How did zebrafish larvae respond to increased DNA damage in their neurons?

• Their sleep patterns remained unchanged

• They fell asleep more quickly and slept more

• They slept less

• They became more active

What role does the protein Parp1 play in sleep regulation?

• It decreases DNA damage

• It detects DNA damage and initiates repair

• It increases neuronal activity

• It regulates circadian rhythm

What was the effect of blocking Parp1 from flagging DNA damage in zebrafish?

• The fish became more active during the day

• The fish slept less, especially at times of high sleep pressure

• The fish showed no change in sleep

• The fish slept more