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230 points mdp2021 | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.216s | source
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avar ◴[] No.41868092[source]
This article doesn't even try to address what I feel is the deeper and more interesting question (but probably one that can't be answered): Why is it that horses, cows, giraffes and birds have all had to come up with a purely passive solution of "locking" themselves in place, either via their joints (for the four-legged), or via the tendon mechanism described here for birds?

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?

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meindnoch ◴[] No.41868139[source]
Also, why didn't any animal evolve a way to avoid sleep completely?
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interludead ◴[] No.41868270[source]
Sleep has crucial role in survival and well-being
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jajko ◴[] No.41868891[source]
Yeah but what role? 24h always at least a bit running brain has also crucial role in survival.

I get some form of maintenance is needed, but 8h every day seems like an overkill for very significant disadvantages. Many other mammals require significantly less sleep.

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1. interludead ◴[] No.41969410[source]
For humans, the benefits of adequate sleep, like improved focus, emotional regulation, and overall health, tend to outweigh the potential disadvantages.