Nancy Melucci posted one of her challenging question to ensure we have something to do in our free (or not-so-free) time:
> > A student posted a question to my discussion board, essentially asking why we > close our eyes when we sleep and what part of the brain is in charge of this. > If any of you bio mavens have the answer please let me know and also let me > know if it is OK for me to cut and paste your response to my Blackboard site. > Thanks kindly in advance for the help. Short answer: not a clue. Longer answer: but I can speculate. Speculation 1: A prerequisite for sleep is to reduce sensory stimulation. What better way to cut down on sensory stimulation of a visual kind than to close one's eyes? The flaw here is that we don't also close our ears. Moreover, since most sleeping takes place at night, visual sensory input is low whether we close 'em or not. Speculation 2: Eyes open requires muscular exertion. Eyes closed is the default position, eye muscles relaxed. As sleep is associated with relaxation of muscles (that's why we have to lie down), our eyes naturally close when we fall asleep. As support, I recall that one of the most prominent features of long-term sleep deprivation is painful eyes, probably because the subject must keep them open constantly or risk falling asleep. Sure, cut and paste away. -Stephen ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stephen Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470 Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661 Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lennoxville, QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy Check out TIPS listserv for teachers of psychology at: http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/psyc/southerly/tips/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
