00:00Should we spend the night together? It's a hot topic in the scientific community.
00:04A paper published in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution in September
00:08argued that social sleeping should be examined more closely in studies of animal sleep habits.
00:13The paper noted several species whose sleep is affected by the presence of their cohort.
00:17For example, olive baboons sleep less as their group size increases.
00:21Bumblebees sleep less when their offspring are around.
00:24And mice can synchronize their REM cycles when sleeping in groups,
00:28though those cycles can also become more fragmented.
00:31An article published Tuesday in the Conversation argues that we should apply this open-minded
00:35spirit of inquiry to human sleep habits as well.
00:38The article points out that while most people in the West expect to only sleep alone or with
00:42a romantic partner, that's not the case throughout the world.
00:45For example, in parts of South America, Asia, and Africa, caregivers and infants sleep together
00:50at rates as high as 60 to 100 percent.
00:53And customs were quite different throughout history as well.
00:55The BBC highlights a time in the 12th century when England's Richard the Lionheart cemented
01:00a peace treaty with France by sleeping in the same bed as that country's Philip II.
01:05This is a field of study which could have many fresh insights to offer.
01:09The authors of the Trends in Ecology and Evolution paper say,
01:11Social sleep is a research frontier that we believe holds exciting potential for new insights
01:16into both sleep science and wild animals' lives.
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