The term “brainwashing” refers to a form of psychological manipulation of mind control through coercive persuasion. It is a method of forced re-education to alter the truth. This idea of brainwashing carries a very negative meaning. But there is a different type of brainwashing that occurs in our brain while we sleep.
In a recent discovery a team of scientists at the University of Oslo, borrowed the term “brainwashing” and redefined it to describe an important and beneficial process which happens to all of us while we are asleep.
We are all aware of how important getting a good night of sleep is to our health. Sleep helps our bodies recuperate and replenish its reserves that were depleted during the day. Sleep revitalizes our energy systems to regain new strength to be used the following day.
Well, now we can add another beneficial biological mechanism that takes place while we sleep. It’s referred to as “brainwashing”. But, in this case means the key process of how and why the brain rids itself of harmful waste substances.
This discovery could have far-reaching implications for a greater understanding for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Brainwashing is a way our brain cleans out debris and neuro related buildup through the use of the lymphatic system. This mechanism becomes more active while we are at rest and can be seen through the blood vessels, in particular the arteries, throughout the brain as they constrict and dilate in certain patterns as they pertain to the various stages of sleep.
The brain is very active both throughout the day and while we sleep. In this regard, it accumulates much harmful waste that is in need of removal. If the brain is not actively in self-cleaning mode, the buildup of waste by products can increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
Associate professor, Rune Enger at the Letten Centre at the University of Oslo explains, “Our discoveries can help us find new ways to treat or even prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. These findings can also help to create strategies to deliver drugs to the brain more efficiently.”
Enger goes on to say in the new article published in Nature Communications, “The “brainwashing” process is far more efficient when you are asleep than when you are awake. The reason for this is not yet clear.”
Blood Vessel Activity During Sleep Patterns
Brain waste products are removed through specialized tunnels located nearby brain blood vessels. Researchers took a closer look at the brains of mice at sleep using a special advanced laser microscope to detect changes in natural occurring blood vessel activity.
They discovered the arteries dilated and constricted in certain patterns while the mice slept, that weren’t seen while they were active during the day. They believe this activity is a device used to cleanse the brain from accumulated waste materials.
All Stages of Sleep are Important for Waste Removal
It was previously believed that only during deep sleep stages the brain cleaning process took place. But this study revealed the blood vessel constricting and dilating process was active in all stages of the sleep cycle. They witnessed a slower constriction and dilation in the arteries during deep sleep, that became less active during REM sleep and continued on through the brief periods of light awakening throughout the night.
This specialized dance of brain cleaning activity was unique at each stage of the sleeping cycle.
Blood Vessels for Brain Fluids and Molecule Transport
The research team noticed how the channels next to these blood vessels, used for transport of important molecules and brain fluids, would change in tandem with each other. These channels would widen and narrow along with the blood vessels, which led researchers to believe they were both coordinated. Meaning, the bad contents were being discharged as the good fluids were coming in.
The research team went on to use biomechanical computer modelling and simulations to support their findings.
Kent-Andre Mardal, leader of the computer modelling work said, “To sum up, we found that the artery dilations and constrictions and the simultaneous changes in the channels around them had a big part to play in both the flow of fluids and the transport of substances in the brain.”
The foundational activity of our brain remains to be dynamically complex as it is required to perform at its highest levels during both our wakeful and sleeping states. Yet these biological mechanisms involved largely go unnoticed until studies such as this become known to science. The restorative and purification systems of our brain seem to be intertwined and coordinated in such remarkable ways, beyond our understanding. Let us hope that science continues to learn as it reveals the miraculous ways our body’s secrets can be consistently achieved so effortlessly while we sleep.
-A Balance Brain is a Better Brain for a Happier Life-