April 12, 2009, 5:37 pm Sleep cleans up the brain New evidence
in fruit flies shows the importance of proteins in helping the
brain feel fresh and ready to go... Feeling bright and perky
today? Chances are that you had a good night's sleep then... and
that means that you brain had the chance to get rid of the
proteins that can make us feel "muddle headed" when we don't
sleep well. Where are these proteins in the brain? They are
found in the gaps between nerve cells - called synapses . One of
these proteins is called Bruchpilot (BRP) and it helps nerve
cells (neurons) send impulses to communicate with other nerve
cells. Too many of such proteins, which build up during the day,
don't allow our brains to learn well - think about how tough
lessons (or exams!) feel when you've had a long day or have
slept very late the night before So sleep is important to lower
the level of the proteins like BRP - a kind of down-scaling of
synapses occurs so that only the strongest ones are kept in a
weaker form with fewer protei