Better sleep linked with family tree strength

The question of why we sleep has been a longstanding subject of debate, with some theories suggesting that slumber provides respite for the brain, which allows it to filter out insignificant neural connections, build new ones, strengthen memories and even repair itself. However, new Oxford University research has used mathematical approaches to tackle the adaptive significance of sleep, and suggests that it has another equally significant purpose - boosting our 'fitness' and future family line reproductive success. The question of why we sleep has been a longstanding subject of debate, with some theories suggesting that slumber provides respite for the brain, which allows it to filter out insignificant neural connections, build new ones, strengthen memories and even repair itself. However, new Oxford University research has used mathematical approaches to tackle the adaptive significance of sleep, and the findings suggest that sleep has another equally significant purpose - boosting our 'fitness' and future family line reproductive success. The paper, published in PLOS One has used mathematical modelling to investigate the adaptive significance of sleep and assess if it impacts 'fitness' (defined as the number of future children, grandchildren, great grandchildren etc.) and mortality. The work was led by Jared Field, a postgraduate student in the Oxford Mathematical Institute and Professor Mike Bonsall, Professor of Mathematical Biology in the Department of Zoology. The mathematical formulas allowed the team to compare the 'fitness' success of sleeping and not sleeping under a range of different conditions, such as varying birth and mortality rates, and environments, including vulnerable and safe environments.