Science of sleep quiz: How much do you know about sleep and dreams?
Test your knowledge of how sleeping and dreaming work.
We spend a large portion of our lives sleeping. That might seem like an evolutionary disadvantage, given sleep leaves us immobile and potentially vulnerable to attacks for hours on end — but evidence suggests we have many key physiological functions tied to sleep, and disruptions in sleep are linked to a wide range of health problems, including a higher risk of death.
What's more, as we sleep, we often dream. In this way, sleep unlocks an experience that we can't access during our waking hours.
In the quiz below, test your knowledge of the science of sleeping, as well as the dreams that unfold during sleep. Remember to log in to put your name on the leaderboard; hints are available if you click the yellow button, and let us know your score in the comments.
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Nicoletta Lanese is the health channel editor at Live Science and was previously a news editor and staff writer at the site. She is a recipient of the 2026 AHCJ International Health Study Fellowship, with a project focused on antibiotic stewardship practices in Japan and the U.S. They hold a graduate certificate in science communication from UC Santa Cruz and degrees in neuroscience and dance from the University of Florida. Beyond Live Science, Lanese's work has appeared in The Scientist, Science News, the Mercury News, Mongabay and Stanford Medicine Magazine, among other outlets. Based in NYC, she also remains involved in dance and performs in local choreographers' work.
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