A neuronal group theory of sleep function

A new theory of sleep function is presented within the context of the neuronal group selection hypothesis, which emphasizes that neuronal groups compete for neurons via use‐dependent synaptic formation and atrophy.

Abstract

A new theory of sleep function is presented within the context of the neuronal group selection hypothesis, which emphasizes that neuronal groups compete for neurons via use-dependent synaptic formation and atrophy. It is hypothesized that sleep serves to stabilize these competitive processes by providing a pattern of stimulation that serves to maintain a synaptic infrastructure upon which wakefulness-driven synaptic changes are superimposed. Sleep is 'quantal' in nature in that sleep is a statistical property of a population of neuronal groups in different states. The theory unifies past theories of sleep function yet simultaneously provides a fundamental new paradigm for sleep research.