Psychology 249EP - Topics in Perception and Cognition: A to Zzzs: The Psychology and Neurobiology of Sleep'

Sleep is one of the great enigmas of behavior and physiology. Why would individuals spend 1/3 of their lives in a state that prevents reproducing, collecting resources, or climbing social hierarchies? As Dr. Rechtschaffen eloquently put it: "If sleep does not serve an absolutely vital function, then it is the biggest mistake the evolutionary process has ever made." In this course, we will explore the psychological and neurobiological functions of sleep. We will seek scientifically informed answers to questions like: why do we dream? And what happens when we don't get enough sleep?

Prereq: A 100-level course in Psychology or AP Psychology.