[thedoc (OP)]

Francis Tapon  asked the Naked Scientists:
   Although I’m still not 100% satisfied with the answer your expert gave for why wires tangle, I bet you can answer this perplexing question:
   
Why are we able to suppress our cough while we sleep, but not while we’re awake?
   
I’m getting over the flu and I cough all day. However, once I turn out the lights and I’m sufficiently tired, I fall asleep and I don’t cough all night. When I wake up, 8 hours later, before I can even get out of bed, the coughing resumes where it left off 8 hours before!
   
Why is that?
   
Often I’m just sitting in front of a computer, breathing as calmly as I would be if I were sleeping. I’m confused.
   
Francis Tapon
What do you think?