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  • BBC Wildlife Magazine

    Sleep: a mysterious state of behaviour

    Jun 01, 2023 2 minutes

    THE FUNCTION OF SLEEP IS ONE OF biology’s biggest mysteries. Being unconscious leaves an animal vulnerable to predators and leads to missed opportunities for activities such as foraging or mating. And yet all animals with a nervous system seem to engage in some form of sleep, meaning the benefits clearly outweigh the costs.

    What is sleep?

    It’s a behavioural state in which an animal is less alert

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