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That is a theory. There are many other theories too. The OP's observation was that we don't really have a firm grasp on which theory or theories is/are correct,
by dmreedy 10y ago
That is a theory. There are many other theories too. The OP's observation was that we don't really have a firm grasp on which theory or theories is/are correct, in the way we (believe) that we understand something like the nature of chemical interactions, or the limits of finite-state computation. Sleep, like many many other functions of the brain, not the least of which being its most recognizable function (to us), remains something speculated about without broad consensus. As per the fantastic quote in the linked wiki article,
"As far as I know, the only reason we need to sleep that is really, really solid is because we get sleepy."
- burke 10y agoA theory, sure. Another thing to remember about biological systems is that complex features like sleep rarely serve just one purpose. There will generally be one cause that was killing lots of members of a population which the feature was developed to mitigate, but other "reasons" may have grown over time as evolution "discovered" other ways the feature can help. I think in general, good-sounding theories produced by the "speculative evolutionary biology" game are actually very often right -- but only describe one facet of a supremely messy system with boundaries that don't conform cleanly to the mental models we try to impose.