Sleep research including the most important milestones

The history of sleep research dates back to ancient times. During this time, sleep was viewed as a state in which the body regenerates and heals itself. Over the centuries, sleep research has continued to evolve, culminating in modern technologies that allow us to accurately monitor and understand sleep. In this article, we take a look at the most important milestones in sleep research and the most important researchers or scholars.

Antiquity

Sleep was considered a state in which the body regenerates and heals itself.

• The Greek philosopher Aristotle believed that sleep was necessary to refresh the body and improve memory.
• The Greek physician Galen believed that sleep played an important role in maintaining health and that lack of sleep could lead to illness.

Middle Ages

• The Persian physician Avicenna described sleep as a state in which the body has the opportunity to regenerate and heal.
• The Arab scholar Ibn al-Jazzar recommended that people with sleep problems take certain herbs and medications.

Renaissance

The French philosopher René Descartes coined the term “sleep” and described it as an absence of consciousness.

• The English physician Thomas Willis described breathing and muscle activity during sleep.
• The English writer William Shakespeare often mentioned sleep in his works, describing it as "sweet" and "refreshing."

17th century

The French philosopher René Descartes coined the term "sleep," describing it as an absence of consciousness. He believed that sleep was necessary to regenerate the body and refresh the mind.

18th century

Scottish physician William Cullen coined the term "somnology," which describes the scientific study of sleep. He believed that sleep plays an important role in maintaining health.

19th century

In the 19th century, scientists began to study sleep more closely. The German physiologist Karl von Vierordt developed a method to measure sleep duration. He used a clock to record the time a person spent in bed.

20th century

In the early 1900s, scientists introduced electroencephalograms (EEGs) to measure the brain's electrical activity during sleep. German neurologist Hans Berger was one of the first to use this technology.

In the 1950s, American physiologist Nathaniel Kleitman developed polysomnography, a technology that measures brain activity, eye movements, breathing, and muscle activity during sleep. This technology allowed scientists to divide sleep into several stages.

In the 1980s, French scientist Michel Jouvet developed a theory that sleep plays an important role in regulating emotions and moods. He also discovered that REM sleep, during which we dream, plays a key role in processing emotions.

Today

Today, scientists use a variety of technologies to accurately monitor and understand sleep, including polysomnography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET).

Today's leading sleep researchers include scientists such as Matthew Walker, author of the bestseller "Why We Sleep," and Allan Hobson, who has developed theories about the functions of REM sleep.

Conclusion

The history of sleep research dates back to ancient times. Over the centuries, researchers and scholars have studied sleep in ever greater detail, gaining important insights. Today, we know that sleep plays an important role in maintaining health and that a lack of sleep can lead to a range of health problems.

Thanks to modern technologies, we can now monitor and understand sleep more accurately. Sleep research has also led to important discoveries, such as z.B. the discovery of REM sleep and its functions.

Sleep research is an important field that helps us better understand sleep and its impact on health. Advances in sleep research have also led to better treatments for insomnia and other sleep-related problems.

Overall, sleep research has a long history and will continue to evolve in the future. Sleep research is of great importance for maintaining health and improving quality of life.