Despite decades of research, the precise function of sleep remains one of the most enduring mysteries in all (0) OF neuroscience. What is beyond doubt is that sleep deprivation has devastating effects on both physical and mental health — effects that can manifest after 1 little as a single night of poor rest. So fundamental is sleep to the proper functioning of the brain 2 even moderate deficits have been shown to impair judgement to a degree comparable with alcohol intoxication. 3 alarming this finding may be, it has done little to alter the behaviour of those 4 routinely sacrifice sleep in the pursuit of productivity. Were the true costs of sleep deprivation 5 be expressed in purely economic terms, the figures would be staggering. Not until recently 6 scientists begin to understand the role of sleep in consolidating memory and processing emotion, functions 7 which the brain cannot operate effectively. It is perhaps no coincidence that the most creative minds in history were known for guarding 8 sleep with a dedication that many found eccentric.