Scientists: Snails don't need to sleep much because their lives are not mentally demanding

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(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists in Canada noticed pond snails spent around 10 percent of their time attached to the side of their tank with their tentacles partly withdrawn, their shells hanging away from their bodies, and with their feet symmetrical and relaxed. The researchers decided to do some experiments to find out if the snails were asleep or just resting, and their results provide the first evidence that gastropods sleep.

...

The researchers ... found that the sleep patterns followed a two to three day period rather than a 24 hour cycle with clusters of around seven bouts of sleeping over a 13-15 hour period followed by over 30 hours of uninterrupted activity. They did not need to make up for lost sleep, a process known as sleep rebound.

Dr Stephenson said snails do not sleep at a regular time as most other animals do, and they need very little sleep because their lifestyles are not mentally demanding, so they probably do not need tight controls over their sleeping patterns.

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-02-evidence-snails.html

[Ban Hammer 13,403]

and this is related to politics or religion how?

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and this is related to politics or religion how?

Scientists do very little work that is not taxpayer funded.

And most of them are bleeding liberals.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Scientists do very little work that is not taxpayer funded.

And most of them are bleeding liberals.

Send more money!

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Send more money!

I am pro choice. I choose not to. I thought you are pro choice too, but when it comes to spending my money I guess not?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

given that snails expend very little energy, I thought it was a given that they wouldn't need much sleep.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I am pro choice. I choose not to. I thought you are pro choice too, but when it comes to spending my money I guess not?

You are one crazy mofo.

[james&olya 1,121]

Seems this would help the GOP if they ever decide to do their filibusters the way they did in the past where they had to be awake on the floor of the senate continuously!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Seems this would help the GOP if they ever decide to do their filibusters the way they did in the past where they had to be awake on the floor of the senate continuously!

[Zero Sum 305]

So there IS more to learn on this site than just immigration stuff!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So there IS more to learn on this site than just immigration stuff!

Yesterday, I learned how to spear a man right through his heart using a trident, right here on this site.

[LaL 418]

Edited February 18, 2011 by LaL

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Scientists: Snails don't need to sleep much because their lives are not mentally demanding

Now I can say Iv'e seen it all.

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Scientists: Snails don't need to sleep much because their lives are not mentally demanding

Now I can say Iv'e seen it all.

Snails do not have mentally demanding lives. Who knew, right?

[Zero Sum 305]

There's a website that is famous in PhD circles that has nice comics of what happens on the internet and in popular culture with scientific results.

Let me see if I can find it. Ah yes... phdcomics.com

Lets see if I can stick a pic here:

Not the right kind of format I thinks. Newbie.

I think that's about right. I suppose there will be a fair share of readers that personify the 'internets' and 'grandma' parts of the diagram to 100% fidelity!