Researchers at Tohoku University have identified a metabolic paradox during REM sleep where blood volume and fuel supply increase even as neuronal ATP levels decline. By observing transparent mouse skulls, they found that the brain undergoes a large-scale energy shift starting roughly 50 seconds before the onset of dreaming. This suggests the brain prioritizes specific metabolic pathways to power high-demand activities like memory consolidation.
This study offers a concrete look at how biological systems balance tight energy budgets during complex internal processing. However, it remains unclear whether this ATP depletion is a necessary cost of synaptic reorganization or a byproduct of inefficiency. Further research is needed to determine if this pattern in rodents directly mirrors the energy economy of human sleep.
more: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093206.htm
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