ABSTRACT
Nothing appears more peaceful than a sleeping infant or child. Sleep is not always as peaceful as it appears, in fact, it is a period of considerable neurologic and physiologic activity. There are times during sleep in which the brain is actually more active than when awake, with periods of considerable brain activity involving higher cortical functions (1,2). Sleep is also a period of energy conservation and reduced metabolic activity (3). Sleep is a very complex physiologic process that is generated by many different regions of the central nervous system working together (2). Sleep is generally defined as a reversible state of decreased responsiveness and environmental interaction regularly alternating in a circadian manner with responsiveness and environmental interaction (1,2). This differs from unconsciousness, which is a state in which the unresponsiveness is not easily reversed (1,2). Even though sleep has been studied extensively, the exact definition and function of sleep remains elusive (2). What we do know is that an adequate amount of quality sleep is essential for physical growth and development, emotional health, social interaction, healthy immune function, creativity, and learning.
