A new scientific discovery reveals that organisms like jellyfish and sea anemones, which possess neurons but lack a centralized brain, sleep in a manner fundamentally similar to humans. These findings strongly support a radical theory: sleep evolved before complex nervous systems, likely to repair DNA damage in neurons. Molecular neuroscientist Lior Appelbaum, a study author, explains, "Neurons are precious. They do not divide, so you need to keep them healthy." It appears that during wakefulness, oxidative stress and DNA damage accumulate in these vital cells, and the sleep state provides the necessary window for clearing and repairing this damage. This revolutionary discovery suggests the primary function of sleep is not merely brain rest, but a deeply conserved cellular necessity to protect the integrity of the fundamental neural unit, transforming our understanding of sleep's very nature across the animal kingdom.
Understanding cellular repair mechanisms is at the heart of modern neuroscience and regenerative medicine. ASWTR serves as a dedicated platform for pioneering research that deciphers repair and regeneration processes at the cellular and tissue levels.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00044-7