Sleeping Outside The Box: Electroencephalographic Measures Of Sleep In Sloths Inhabiting A Rainforest

Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: Biology / Biochemistry;  Veterinary
Article Date: 14 May 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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We performed the first electroencephalogram (EEG), or brain wave, recordings of sleep on animals in the wild using a recently developed miniaturized EEG recorder, and found that brown-throated three-toed sloths (Bradypus variegates) inhabiting the canopy of a tropical rainforest only sleep 9.6 hours per day, over six hours less than previously reported in captivity, and much less than commonly believed.

Although the exact reason for this difference remains unclear, ecological demands may limit the time available for sleep in the wild.

Ultimately, additional studies of animals sleeping in their natural environment may provide insight in the function of sleep.

Royal Society journal Biology Letters

Biology Letters publishes short, high-quality articles from across the biological sciences. The journal is characterised by stringent peer-review, rapid publication and broad dissemination of cutting-edge research communications.

Biology Letters