Genetic Protection Against Sleep Deprivation

    Numerous studies have shown that lack of sleep hurts-it can lead to weight gain, diseases, and of course weakened cognitive functioning. But a bad night's sleep doesn't hurt everyone equally. Unlike me, some people can think clearly no matter what. A study published June 24th in the Journal of Neuroscience helps explain why.

    Scientists looked for a genetic marker called Period 3 known to predict the effects of sleep deprivation. People with short versions of the gene do okay when they lose sleep. But the longer gene leads to suffering with lack of sleep.

    Researchers tested attention and cognition before and after both good and bad nights' sleeps. Those with the long Period 3 had poor function in the part of the brain that would usually spring to life. Even after a decent night, the long-gene people had reduced brain activity towards the end of the day. But folks with the short gene did better, and their brains even pulled in extra assistance from surrounding brain areas. I can guess which variation of the gene I have-which means not only should I get a good's night sleep, I should probably write my scripts in the morning.

    利用遗传保护对付睡眠剥夺

    许多研究表明睡眠缺乏对人有害--它能导致体重增加、生病，当然还能导致认知能力减退。但是糟糕的睡眠对每个人的影响是不一样的。不像我，有些人即使睡眠不好也能清醒地思考。发表在6月24日的《神经科学杂志》（Journal of Neuroscience）上的一项研究能帮助解释其中的道理。

    科学家们研究了一种称为周期3的遗传标记，这种遗传标记能预测睡眠剥夺的影响。当人们的这种基因比较短的时候，他们缺乏睡眠影响也不大。但是，当人们的这种基因比较长的时候，睡眠缺乏就能导致不适。

    研究者们检测了在拥有高质量的睡眠以及糟糕睡眠之前以及之后人们的注意力和认知力。那些具有长周期3基因的人，他们大脑的某些部位表现欠佳，而这些部位通常都很活跃。即使是有了一个不错的睡眠，那些具有长周期3基因的人在一天结束的时候，他们的大脑活动也减少了。但是那些具有短周期3基因的人表现更好，而且他们的大脑甚至还从这些大脑部位的周边区域寻找到额外的帮助来活跃大脑。我能猜测到我属于那种基因类型--这就是说我不仅仅需要一个好的睡眠，而且我可能应该在早上写我的广播稿。

    Vocabulary:

    Deprivation:丧失；剥夺

    Zzz:（象声词，模拟打鼾的声音）睡眠

    Genetic:遗传的；基因的

    Cognitive:认知的

    Script:广播稿，研究稿