Building the SHEL at the University of Toronto Mississauga
The primary aim of this project is to test hypotheses relating to the evolution of human sleep and cognition through a purpose-made facility. This multidisciplinary lab will target research objectives that link evolutionary anthropology, psychology, and social patterns to human cognition and well-being. Professor David Samson’s research has revealed the uniqueness of human sleep in the primate order, but why humans evolved this unique sleep architecture remains a fascinating and unexplored question. The proposed research program will address the following questions: (i) what is the evolutionary function of sleep and dreaming?; (ii) how does sleep architecture influence social decision-making?; (iii) how does evolutionarily relevant stimuli, such as hydration levels or evening-light exposure, influence sleep?
Evolutionary perspectives involving trade-offs and mismatch with local environments are important for understanding sleep; that is, we evolved in ancestral environments that differ significantly from the types of environments we live in today. Given the strong linkage between sleep and downstream physical and mental health outcomes, and the vulnerability of Canadian populations to high latitude seasonal affective disorder (SAD), the lab's output will impact the broader Canadian society. Elsewhere, sleep labs are primarily used for clinical purposes and secondarily for basic science research. For facilities that focus on the latter, few have dedicated their space to test evolutionary questions. Thus, this novel and innovative space will break new ground by using leading-edge technologies to measure sleep and behaviour in a controlled, clinical, and experimental setting.
SHEL Members: David R. Samson
Want to know more? Read here: Two UTM researchers earn grants from fund honouring past U of T president