Intelligent Design the Future Sleeping and Waking, By Design
Aug 14, 2026
Eric Hedin, Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy and author on intelligent design, explores the science and design implications of sleep. He outlines restorative and deep N3 repair processes and explains REM, dreaming, and protective paralysis. He discusses risks of sleep deprivation, problems with evolutionary accounts, push‑pull coordination of sleep‑wake systems, and practical tips for better sleep.
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Sleep as Active Restoration
- Sleep likely serves restorative functions beyond mere inactivity, enabling hormone release, tissue repair, and cellular replenishment.
- Eric Hedin cites research showing growth hormones and muscle/tissue repair occur primarily during sleep, not just resting while awake.
REM Is Active Dreaming With Paralysis
- REM (rapid eye movement) sleep associates with dreaming and elevated brain metabolism, not restful inactivity.
- Hedin notes brain metabolism can increase up to about 20% during REM and the body is effectively paralyzed to prevent acting out dreams.
Deep N3 Sleep Drives Physical Repair
- Deep non-REM N3 (slow wave) sleep handles most bodily repair and immune strengthening.
- Hedin highlights N3 as when bone, muscle building and immune system processes primarily occur.
