Theories of Sleep

Blackmore 1998:

• There most be some need for sleep, because it is dangerous, if we didn't need to we and animals would have evolved to survive without sleep

Webb 1982:

• Suggests that sleep has survival benefits, keeps animals imobile- therefore if they sleep somewhere safe, they are safe from predators.

Meddis 1979:

• Different animals need different amuonts of sleep, this reflects their need for food, methods of obtaining food and exposure to predators.

Brown Bat 82.9%

Human Infant 66.7%

Tiger 65.8%

Golden Hamster 59.6%

Lion 56.3%

Mouse 50.3%

Rabbit 47.5%

Duck 45%

Human Adult 33.3%

Pig 32.6%

Horse 12.0%

Animals sleep for shorter periods if they:

• are at risk from predators.
• cannot find safe places to sleep
• high metabolic rate- need slots of food
• Animal- Cattle, sheep, horse.

Animals sleep fr longer periods of they:

• Can easily find safe places to sleep
• Predators/Have few Predators.
• Satisfy need for food and water quickly
• Animals- Lions Tigers