LOS ANGELES (CNS)—A dramatic change in the purpose of sleep occurs when children are about 2 1/2 years old—a time when sleep’s primary purpose changes from brain-building to brain maintenance and repair, according to a study released on Sept. 18 by researchers at the University of California–Los Angeles (UCLA).
“Don’t wake babies up during REM [rapid eye movement] sleep. Important work is being done in their brains as they sleep,” said Gina Poe, the senior study author.
