Sleep: Evolution and Functions

Dr. Vibha M. Jha is a sleep researcher who focuses on the functions of sleep, especially in learning and memory. She is the author of various research papers and review articles published in international and national journals. She has also contributed numerous chapters in books published by national and international publishers. Dr. Jha is a co-editor of the book “Sleep, Memory and Synaptic Plasticity,” published by Springer. Dr. Jha obtained her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the School of Life Science, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. Later, she moved to the USA and joined the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow with Dr. Adrian Morrison at the Department of Anatomy, School of Veterinary Medicine, UPenn. She returned to India in 2007 and continued her work with Dr. Morrison as an overseas Postdoctoral Fellow until 2010. She has been engaged in sleep research since 1999 and has contributed significantly to the field of sleep research. She is also the recipient of several awards and medals, including the Dr. Ramji Narain Omvati Gold Medal in 1997 and 1999; and the University Gold Medal in 1997 and 1999  for her academic excellence during her biochemistry studies (both awarded by Panjab University, India).Dr. Sushil K. Jha is an Associate Professor at the School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), India. He is currently investigating the neuronal and physiological aspects of sleep and the impact of its loss on overall mental and physical health. Dr. Jha has published several research papers and reviews in national and international journals. He has also contributed numerous chapters in books published by national and international publishers. He has appeared on Indian television and in newspapers to raise awareness of the importance of sleep for proper brain functioning. He holds a Ph.D. from Hamdard University, New Delhi, India and worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. He has been serving at the School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, since 2007. He is the recipient of several national and international awards, including the Prof. Baldev Singh Oration Award, 2015 (awarded by the Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India); NASI Scopus Young Scientist Award, 2007 (awarded by Elsevier India); Young Investigator Award, 2006 (awarded by Sleep Research Society, USA); Faculty Career Development Award, 2005 (awarded by American Sleep Medicine Foundation, USA); Trainee Merit-Based Travel Award, 2004 (awarded by Sleep Research Society, USA); B.K. Anand Research Award, 2001 (awarded by the Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India).

Sleep: Basic and Historical Aspects.- Sleep: Findings in Invertebrates and Lower Vertebrates.-  Sleep: Evolutionary and Adaptive Changes in Birds and Mammals.- Sleep Loss: What Does it do to our Brain and Body.- Sleep: Neural Optimization as An Ultimate Function for Memory Consolidation.- Sleep: Disorders and Clinical Implications.