Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Trivia Quiz

Answer: Morpheus

The drug morphine is named after this Roman god of dreams. Morpheus appears in Walt Disney's animated film "Fantasia". Morpheus is also the name of a character played by Laurence Fishburne in the 1999 film "The Matrix" who allows Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, "to wake up from his 'sleep'".

Source: Wikipedia.org

Answer: Optical fibers in spectacles

This system was first utilized on American pilots during the bombing of Kosovo in 1999. Servicemen could stay awake a full day and a half and function well in their duties. Optical fibers attached to glasses would beam white light around the border of soldiers' and airmen's retinas. This causes the brain to be "fooled" into sensing that the military member has just woken up.

Source: danlempriere.com

Answer: Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is of critical importance for the body's sleep cycles, blood pressure regulation, body temperature regulation, heart rate and other functions and reflexes.

Answer: Narcolepsy

According to Wikipedia, Narcolepsy is a "chronic sleep disorder"; it is also known as dyssomnia. This disorder causes uncontrollable attacks of deep sleep. The episodes are usually brief. Somnolence is a condition of drowsiness or sleepiness. Sleep paralysis is a period of time of consciously experienced paralysis usually when just falling asleep or upon waking up. Cataplexia can be the first symptom of narcolepsy. Cataplexy attacks are brief but unexpected loss of muscle control.

Answer: At least five

The Romans were known to have used at least five beds, all for different purposes. The "lectus cubicularis" (chamber bed) was used for sleeping. The "lectus genialis" or "marriage bed" was also utilized. The "lectus discubitorius" was the "table bed" used for eating. The "lectus lucubratorius" was a bed used for studying. Finally, the "lectus funebris" is a bed on which the dead were carried to their funeral pyre.

Source: Wikipedia.org

Answer: Shining bright lights on the back of knees

The experiment by Campbell and Murphy involved shining bright lights onto the back of volunteers' knees. There was a resetting of their circadian rhythms in direct correlation with the light exposure. The reasons for this are unclear and involve a number of theories.

A machine with fiber optic cables would introduce light to the back of a participant's blanket-encased knee. It was found that this procedure had the same clock-altering effect as that of shining a light directly into the eyes. This is a procedure that can be beneficial for those suffering jet lag, insomnia, or other sleep disorders.

Answer: Duck

When Mallard ducks sleep in the water in a row, the ducks on the outer row get less sleep and keep an eye open toward the outside of the paddling to check for predators. The hemisphere of these ducks' brains toward the interior of the group is asleep with the inner eye closed.

Answer: Not every person dreams in color

It is estimated that about 12% of people only dream in black and white. If one is born blind, one likely does not see graphics, but the dreams can involve one's other sensory organs. The hormone norepinephrine is instrumental in memory and is lacking in the brain region to effectively "remember" dreams. You are essentially paralyzed when asleep due to the secretion of certain hormones and neuron signals to the spinal cord that encourage a "paralysis".

Answer: Sleep apnea

The term "apnea" stems from the Greek meaning of "want of breath". People with sleep apnea will literally stop breathing during many episodes while asleep.
Usually a family member will be the first to notice signs of apnea in another family member who is asleep. Men typically are at risk for sleep apnea more than women. However, children can also be affected, diagnosed, and treated. Some risk factors for sleep apnea include high blood pressure and being overweight. Sleep studies can be effective in diagnosing the disorder.

Answer: Water

The soda or coffee you would drink probably has caffeine and this will interfere with sleep processes. Drinking alcohol can disrupt the natural sequence and length of the sleep states. If you drink water before bed, your hormones and energy levels can be enhanced. Your joints and muscles can become more rested.

This helps your entire body to relax and you can feel more rejuvenated when you awake.