I.e. why wasn't in simpler in evolutionary terms to come up with some mechanism where 1% of the brain was dedicated to the relatively simple task of "station keeping", while the rest of the brain could benefit from sleep?
I.e. why wasn't in simpler in evolutionary terms to come up with some mechanism where 1% of the brain was dedicated to the relatively simple task of "station keeping", while the rest of the brain could benefit from sleep?
That said, this is not the whole story, because there are people with a rare genetic disorder called CIPA which completely prevents the feeling of pain, but they still reposition themselves, so besides pain, it is muscle fatigue (that prompts subconscious movements), autonomic reflexes, and well, sleep cycles or phases also lead to the body shifting positions unconsciously.
In any case, people with CIPA are at a much higher risk of developing complications related to immobility because they do not experience the typical discomfort (pain) that triggers movement.
Not everything is lost though, you can potentially learn it through repetition, you just have to do this in a half-awake state or in a state close to sleep. Do it often enough, and theoretically you may be able to perform the task during non-REM sleep.