Welcome to BrainStuff, a production of I Heart Radio.

Hi BrainStuff, Lauren Vocalbaum here with another classic episode from our archives.

This one has to do with the sometimes tricky subject of

sleep and why some people sleep way easier with a fan whoring in their bedroom.

Hey there brain stuff Lauren Vogelbaum here.

Chances are you know at least a few people who rely on the

were of a fan to get a good night's rest.

You might be one of them yourself.

The effect that a fan provides during sleeping is similar to

white noise. We spoke with Kelsey Allen, a sleep expert with mattress manufacturer

sleep train in an email interview. They said, people who sleep with a fan are capitalizing on what we call

white noise. Just like white light which encompasses all the colors on the spectrum

white noise encompasses all sound frequencies within typical human hearing.

Technically, true white noises generated only electronically,

but ambient noises like fans,

distant cicadas, or gentle rain can produce a similar effect.

So what's going on in the brains of folks who need fans

that makes them different from others?

The answer likely lies on how our brains are wired.

Sleep spindle in particular seem to be the key.

These are spikes of neural activity that can be seen on

electroencephlogram tests, aka EEGs, and present as short brainwave bursts that cause a spike

...