Research reveals how 'brain tries to keep us awake'

One night without sleep can cause an increase in the amount of the chemical dopamine in the human brain, new research has revealed.

Dopamine promotes wakefulness and scientists claim the findings may explain how the brain helps people stay awake despite the need for sleep.

However, the study also highlighted the fact that increased levels of dopamine cannot compensate for the negative effects sleep deprivation has on people's ability to carry out cognitive tasks.

Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the main researcher on the study, said: "The concurrent decline in cognitive performance, which is associated with the dopamine increases, suggests that the adaptation is not sufficient to overcome the cognitive deterioration induced by sleep deprivation."

Elsewhere, ABC News has reported women are more likely to experience the condition known as sleep-eating, where they prepare and eat meals after nodding off.

For people who struggle to get a decent night's sleep changing the mattress can sometimes help.

A Tempur mattress is designed to give a high level of support and a more comfortable night's sleep.

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