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Evolution of Sleep

Phylogenetic and Functional Perspectives

Patrick McNamara editor Robert A Barton editor Charles L Nunn editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:12th Oct '09

Should be back in stock very soon

Evolution of Sleep cover

This book is aimed at researchers and graduate students in neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and biological anthropology and to biomedical researchers studying sleep medicine.

Research during the past two decades has produced major advances in understanding sleep within particular species. Simultaneously, molecular advances have made it possible to generate phylogenetic trees, while new analytical methods provide the tools to examine macroevolutionary change on these trees. These methods have recently been applied to questions concerning the evolution of distinctive sleep state characteristics and functions. This book synthesizes recent advances in our understanding of the evolutionary origins of sleep and its adaptive function, and it lays the groundwork for future evolutionary research by assessing sleep patterns in the major animal lineages.

"This book is necessary reading for anyone working in sleep medicine. The reader will understand better why today, despite the abundant research reported in this book, we are far from understanding the entire function of sleep in humans. Yet at the same time, a good understanding can be gained about the evolutionary threads that can be perceived through phylogenetic analyses. We can use investigations of many different models to improve our knowledge of both animal and human sleep, and design protocols to pursue our quest to understand one of our vital functions. Mia Zaharna Christian Guilleminault, Division of Sleep Medicine Stanford University for American Journal of Human Biology

ISBN: 9780521894975

Dimensions: 260mm x 182mm x 20mm

Weight: 680g

288 pages