Many of us humans have trouble sleeping and getting a good night’s sleep. However, this is not the case with mice and flies, so we need to understand what makes them different. Read on and learn how these animals may be the secret to how to sleep better!
The difference between rats and flies
Much more than just being transmitters of pathogens, rats and flies actually have something positive. Unlike us, they sleep peacefully!
Upon noticing this quality of sleep, researchers at Harvard Medical School began to study what could be causing it. After a while, they finally managed to find something to relate the two pieces of information.
Protein abundance
With this, scientists have come to the conclusion that the secret lies in something much simpler than we might imagine: protein. In other words, the protein-rich diet of these animals would be the cause of a perfect night’s sleep.
Proteins are molecules that we are already familiar with and are made up of (many) amino acids, creating chains known as polypeptides. They are extremely important in the formation of cells and in coordinating various vital processes.
As a result, the abundance of protein increases the levels of CCHa1 (neuropeptide), which in turn influences the agitation of flies. In other words, a lot of protein will result in a lot of CCHa1, and this generates little agitation in them while they sleep.
The experiment with rats
After noticing all this in the flies, a more controlled diet was given to the mice. In this way, it was seen that foods with more protein made it “difficult” for the little animals to wake up after mechanical vibrations.
However, scientists are not sure if the mechanism is the same. It may be that this occurs in animals for different reasons. But this could be a great start to evolving it to humans, solving the problem for many.
If you want to try it out, there’s nothing stopping you from choosing a diet richer in protein and testing this theory in practice.
