Evolution of sleep

Question 1

Which Greek philosopher is credited with the belief that sleep is closely connected to sensation?
a. Hippocrates
b. Aristotle
c. Robert Macnish
d. Henri Piéron

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What is the reason smaller mammals tend to sleep for longer periods?
a. They need to be on constant alert for predators
b. They have to eat more often to support their body weight
c. They are less afraid of predators
d. They sleep in hiding and do not need to be on constant alert for predators

Answer 2

D

Question 3

What is uni-hemispheric sleep?
a. Sleeping with one hemisphere of the brain while the other hemisphere is awake
b. Sleeping with one eye open while the other eye is closed
c. Sleeping with one hemisphere of the brain while the other hemisphere remains active
d. Sleeping in a standing position

Answer 3

A

Question 4

What is the reason some birds in a flock sleep with one eye open?
a. To keep a lookout for predators
b. To be able to fly away quickly if danger arises
c. To prevent other birds from stealing their food
d. To keep track of their nesting materials

Answer 4

A

Question 5

Which year did Johannes Berger document that electrical activity in the human brain differs between wakefulness and sleep?
a. 1927
b. 1929
c. 1937
d. 1957

Answer 5

B

Question 6

True or False: Rapid eye movements (REM) occur during non-dreaming sleep.
a. True
b. False

Answer 6

B

Question 7

Which of the following mammals sleep the least amount of time per day?
a. Cows
b. Horses
c. Elephants
d. Cats

Answer 7

A

Question 8

True or False: Natural selection is dependent upon environment and circumstance.
a. True
b. False

Answer 8

A

Question 9

Which of the following statements is true about plants and sleep?
a. Plants do not sleep
b. Plants only sleep during the day
c. Plants close up at night
d. Plants never close up

Answer 9

C

Question 10

True or False: Bugs have periods of deep rest known as torpor.

Answer 10

TRUE

Question 11

Which of the following mammals sleeps the most?
a. Cows
b. Bats
c. Dogs
d. Horses

Answer 11

B

Question 12

Why do smaller mammals sleep more than larger mammals?
a. They need to eat more often to support their body weight
b. They are constantly on alert for predators
c. They sleep in hiding and don’t need to be on constant alert
d. They have less fear of predators

Answer 12

C

Question 13

True or False: Sleeping patterns in mammals can change when they live safely in captivity.

Answer 13

TRUE

Question 14

What is exaptation?
a) How a species repositions the function of a trait/behavior over time
b) Traits shaped by natural selection for their current function
c) Traits that survive because they are enlisted for new uses
d) Both a) and c)

Answer 14

D

Question 15

Natural selection is dependent upon:
A) Environment and circumstance
B) Genetic manipulation
C) Random chance
D) Physical appearance

Answer 15

A

Question 16

Which of the following is true about human sleep compared to other primates?
A) Humans need more sleep than other primates
B) Human sleep is less efficient than other primates
C) Human sleep is more efficient than other primates
D) Humans do not have the ability for uni-hemispheric sleep

Answer 16

C

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of exaptation?
a) The ability of birds to fly
b) The ability of humans to walk upright
c) The use of sleep for cognitive and physiological functions other than just rest

Answer 17

C

Question 18

According to the sleep intensity hypothesis, why did humans evolve to have shorter, more efficient sleep?
a) To conserve energy
b) To have more time for leisure activities
c) To achieve the restorative effects of sleep in less time due to increased predatory risk on the ground

Answer 18

C

Question 19

The sleep intensity hypothesis suggests that:
A. Sleeping on the ground led to shorter and deeper sleep.
B. Sleeping on the ground led to longer and lighter sleep.
C. Sleeping on trees led to deeper sleep.

Answer 19

A

Question 20

Biphasic sleep refers to:
A. Sleeping in two separate nighttime periods.
B. Sleeping only during the day.
C. Sleeping in one continuous period for more than 12 hours.

Answer 20

A

Question 21

Why do humans still need to sleep despite its potential threat to survival?
a) Sleep promotes physical fitness
b) Sleep enhances learning and memory
c) Sleep is critical for metabolic restoration
d) The evolutionary process suggests we still require sleep

Answer 21

D

Question 22

What is an exaptation in regards to sleep?
a) A trait that evolved through natural selection for its current function
b) A trait that has become redundant over time
c) A trait that has been repurposed for new uses
d) A trait that has been deemed non-essential to survival

Answer 22

C

Question 23

What is the Sleep Intensity Hypothesis?
a) A theory that suggests humans evolved shorter, more efficient sleep patterns when they began sleeping on the ground
b) A theory that suggests humans evolved longer, less efficient sleep patterns when they began sleeping on the ground
c) A theory that suggests humans’ sleep patterns did not change when they began sleeping on the ground
d) A theory that suggests humans stopped sleeping when they began sleeping on the ground

Answer 23

A

Question 24

What is biphasic sleep?
a) Sleeping for only one cycle of REM and non-REM sleep
b) Sleeping for one extended period of time
c) Sleeping for two separate nighttime periods
d) Sleeping in a series of short naps throughout the day

Answer 24

C

Question 25

Is it possible that humans could still be biphasic sleepers? a) No, because modern life and societal norms have altered our sleep patterns b) Yes, because research shows that early humans slept in two separate nighttime periods c) No, because humans have evolved past the need for biphasic sleep d) Yes, because a famous 1992 study showed that all participants developed two symmetrical nighttime sleep periods

Answer 25

B

Question 26

True or False: We could still be biphasic sleepers. a) True b) False

Answer 26

A

Question 27

Why did humans shift towards monophasic sleep? a) Protestants and Catholics held private services at night b) The industrial revolution intensified a need for efficiency c) Humans no longer needed to sleep in groups for warmth and safety

Answer 27

B

Question 28

Which of the following societies continue to practice biphasic sleep patterns? A. South American hunter-gatherer tribes B. People living in urban areas C. Individuals with office jobs

Answer 28

A

Question 29

How is sleep viewed in modern society? a) As a badge of honor and a sign of productivity b) As a waste of time and a sign of laziness c) As a biological necessity for optimal health and well-being

Answer 29

B

Question 30

Which of the following is true about biphasic sleep? A) It was only practiced by early humans and no longer exists today. B) It is still found in many hunter-gatherer societies and nomadic societies. C) It was a result of the long workdays and intensive physical labor of the 18th and 19th century.

Answer 30

B

Question 31

In the 1992 study by Thomas Wehr, what happened to the participants who slept in prehistoric conditions for one month in a lab? A) They developed two symmetrical nighttime sleep periods, with a 1–3h waking interval in between. B) They slept for 14 hours straight without any waking intervals. C) They experienced no changes in their sleep patterns.

Answer 31

A

Question 32

What factors contributed to the shift towards monophasic sleep? A) Night became a time for legitimate activity and the length of time people could dedicate to rest dwindled. B) Protestants and Catholics became accustomed to holding private services at night. C) Improvements in street lighting, domestic lighting, and more all night businesses. D) All of the above.

Answer 32

D

Question 33

What was the 2019 FDA warning about prescription sleep aids? A) They cause addiction in all users. B) They can result in various complex sleep behaviors after taking these medicines. C) They are ineffective in treating sleep disorders.

Answer 33

B