Sleep in Mammals: Ecological and Constitutional Correlates
Abstract
The interrelationships between sleep, ecological, and constitutional variables were assessed statistically for 39 mammalian species. Slow-wave sleep is negatively associated with a factor related to body size, which suggests that large amounts of this sleep phase are disadvantageous in large species. Paradoxical sleep is associated with a factor related to predatory danger, which suggests that large amounts of this sleep phase are disadvantageous in prey species.
- Publication:
-
Science
- Pub Date:
- November 1976
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.982039
- Bibcode:
- 1976Sci...194..732A