That question probably ranks up there, right along with how the brain fully works and why we have consciousness.

All I know is that if sleep is deprived too long, strange things begin to happen to the mind. (Granted, it's those 3 am kind of overnighters that my mind can become really sharp.) The mind just sort of shuts down on certain levels. I'm reminded of a recent news story about this guy who spent many days and nights going constantly at one of those LAN games. The lack of sleep and the game's stress killed him somewhere past the 100 hour mark.

It's like the body needs some sort of cool down period. But, the mind can't afford to keep itself shut off from sensory input.

One day, science/technology may find a way to tap into the brain. So, does that mean that everyone can surf the web in their sleep? And, what would that mean to the sub-conscious persons of the future?