The Working Brain : A Freewrite

The body performs many functions that are necessary for maintaining health and homeostasis while an individual is asleep. These functions are often referred to as "non-voluntary" actions because they are not under conscious control. Examples of non-voluntary actions that occur during sleep include regulation of body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, as well as the secretion of hormones and other substances that are important for maintaining physical and mental health. While an individual is asleep, the brain is still active, but certain areas of the brain are more active at different times. For example, the brain regions that are responsible for movement are less active during sleep, which is why people are generally not able to move their muscles as easily or as much while they are asleep.