Q
How do dolphins sleep without drowning?
A
Expert Answer
Dolphins sleep with one brain hemisphere at a time (unihemispheric slow-wave sleep), allowing them to maintain consciousness for breathing (which is voluntary in dolphins). One eye remains open (opposite the awake hemisphere) to watch for predators and pod members.
Key Insight
Dolphins sleep with one brain hemisphere at a time (unihemispheric slow-wave sleep), allowing them to maintain consciousness for breathing (which is voluntary in dolphins).
Topics