Always alert, even in dreams: The extraordinary sleep of Dolphins

Dolphin's sleep is known as unihemispheric slow-wave sleep (USWS). (Image: Canva)

Dolphins are intelligent creatures, and they sleep in a very interesting manner. This phenomenon is referred to as unihemispheric slow-wave sleep (USWS). Basically, in this phenomenon, a half of their brain sleeps, and the rest is awake. This enables them to evade danger and remember to come up to breathe air.

Sleeping with One Eye Open

Contrary to the human beings, who must sleep completely, dolphins sleep half the brain. The awake hemisphere deals with swimming and breathing. While doing so, they do not hit obstacles nor become the prey of the predators. It is like sleeping with half the eyes shut- a clever survival tactic at sea.

Why They Do It

Scientists took millions of years to evolve this amazing adaptation. With being partially awake, dolphins maintain observation in the open ocean where danger could come by any moment. It also aids in keeping a group together since other members of the pod remain alert even when some occurrences are asleep.

Lessons for Humans

The sleep behavior of dolphins offers knowledge on how the brain works and this information can be used in treatable sleep disorders in humans. The issue of how half of the brain can rest whilst the other half is active may also be considered as a source of inspiration of new technologies imitating partial rest to enhance safety and productivity.

Nature’s Clever Trick

The way dolphins strike equilibrium between rest and alertness has been very ingenious. According to researchers, dolphins are always awake even when they are dreaming. In some instances, one has to be relaxed and watchful simultaneously to be alive.