Sleep Science Podcast

About Sleep Science Podcast

We spend a third of our lives sleeping, and this podcast is all about understanding sleep. We know a lot about what the brain does in sleep, but we are just starting to understand why it does some of these things, and even more excitingly, how we can take full advantage of sleep and also manipulate it for our own ends. In each episode, neuroscientist Penny Lewis interviews a different sleep researcher, talking about a various aspect of sleep science. Topics include sleep physiology and medicine, circadian rhythm, how sleep impacts on our memories and creativity, Sleep Engineering for enhanced health and cognition, and the most recent technologies to promote sleep.©SleepSciencePodcast 2021. These materials may be downloaded for personal use only. They may not be shared, distributed or reproduced in any form or for any reason without express permission

Publisher

Penny Lewis

Category

education · health & fitness · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Aug 2020

Latest episode

27 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

29 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Aug 2026

   S4E1 - Niels Niethard - Neural mechanisms underpinning sleep

   In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Niels Niethard from the University of Tübingen to explore what sleep looks like at the level of cortical microcircuits — and how excitation and inhibition are dynamically reconfigured across brain states. Niels walks us through how excitatory pyramidal neurons interact with distinct inhibitory interneuron populations, including somatostatin (SST) and parvalbumin (PV) cells. We discuss how these cell-type-specific interactions shift from wakefulness to non...

2. 

   18 Dec 2025

   S3E9 - End of Season Christmas Q&A

   We've gathered the NaPS lab to answer all your fascinating questions on all things sleep! A perfect bitesize episode to get stuck into the marvellous world of sleep. 1. How does sleep deprivation affect mental health? - Answered by Martha Wawrzuta Bunney, B. G. , Bunney, W. E. (2013). Mechanisms of Rapid Antidepressant Effects of Sleep Deprivation Therapy: Clock Genes and Circadian Rhythms. Biological PsychiatryFang, H., Tu, S., Sheng, J., Shao, A. (2018). Depression in sleep distu...

3. 

   11 Nov 2025

   S3E8 - Michele Bellesi - Glial Cells and the Architecture of Sleep

   In this episode, we welcome neuroscientist Michele Bellesi from the University of Camerino to explore the fascinating world of glial cells and their dynamic role in sleep. Michele guides us through the four types of glial cells: Astrocytes: Regulators of synaptic function and help form the blood brain barrier (BBB)Oligodendrocytes: Crucial for myelination and fast signal transmissionMicroglia: The brain's immune sentinels, important for responding to infection and injury as well as shap...

Who has been a guest on Sleep Science Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Anna Schapiro
• Rebecca Spencer
• Professor Bob Stickgold
• Dr Adam Horowitz
• Professor Delphine Oudiette

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

9 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

18 ratings

Contact Sleep Science Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.