In what sounds like a dream for millions of tired coffee drinkers, Darpa-funded scientists might have found a drug that will eliminate sleepiness.
A nasal spray containing a naturally occurring brain hormone called orexin A reversed the effects of sleep deprivation in monkeys, allowing them to perform like well-rested monkeys on cognitive tests. The discovery's first application will probably be in treatment of the severe sleep disorder narcolepsy.
Siegel said that orexin A is unique in that it only had an impact on sleepy monkeys, not alert ones, and that it is "specific in reversing the effects of sleepiness" without other impacts on the brain.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Snorting a Brain Chemical Could Replace Sleep
Snorting a Brain Chemical Could Replace Sleep
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2 comments:
Hi Jake, just stopping by to check up on you and say "yo". How are things? The vibe is pretty depressing over here as you can imagine. Just trying to keep our heads above water.
On a more positive note, check out my latest project! www.cupkozy.com
-Dinah
Something tells me we won't find out the serious side effects to not sleeping and just snorting after humans start using it and few people start going homicidally twitchy.
I think the worst thing that could happen to us is the expectation for us to eliminate the sleeping cycle and the "down time" of the evening and replace that with an expectation to work longer.
I fail to see much of an upside to this drug. Perhaps for soldiers or crammers but...jeez. Sleep is natural and sacred and I don't think we should be messing with it.
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