sleep

Students who put off sleep to cram for an exam may also be losing brain cells, according to a recent study published in The Journal of Neuroscience. Researchers of the University of Pennsylvania found that mice experiencing extended wakefulness had a decline in locus ceruleus neurons, which are responsible for alertness, suggesting humans who stay up for long periods of time may be subjects to permanent brain cell damage. “When you don’t sleep enough you deplete neurotransmitters,” said Dr. Liane Dornheim, staff psychologist for Counseling and Psychological Services, who specializes in Neuropsychology.