2.3 Importance of Sleep for Mental Health Flashcards
Is sleep important for mental health?
Yes! Sleep deprivation has a negative impact on psychological state.
What is sleep/wake circadian rhythm?
Humans level of alertness at lowest in early hours of the morning and peak in late afternoon. However, it depends on factors such as sleep debt, sunlight, and shift work.
What is the sleep/wake circadian rhythm controlled by?
It is controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) which is a small cluster of nerve cells located in the hypothalamus in the brain.
How does SCN work?
SCN controls the sleep/wake cycle by sending messages to the pineal gland in the brain which adjust melatonin levels.
What are the 4 stages of sleep?
NREM stage 1, NREM stage 2, NREM stage 3, REM sleep.
How is sleep measured?
Sleep is measured using various methods including, Electroencephalograph (EEG), Electrooculogram (EOG), Electromyogram (EMG.
What is EEG?
Measures the brain wave patterns during sleep.
What is EOG?
Measures eye movement during sleep.
What is EMG?
Measures the activity of muscles during sleep.
What are the theories of sleep?
Repair and Restoration Theory, Clean-Up Theory, Evolutionary Theory, and Information Consolidation Theory.
What is the repair and restoration theory?
Sleep repairs and restores basic body functions and strengthen your immune system. Substantial cell repair and protein synthesis occurs during sleep.
What is the clean-up theory?
The brain has two functional states: awake and alert, or asleep and cleaning up. This clean up works like a waste disposal system, clearing out waste products that brain cells generate.
What is evolutionary theory?
This theory hypothesises that one reason for sleep is to conserve energy with periods of inactivity. Humans are most productive during the day, and able to rest at night. In prehistoric times, it was harder to get food, so by sleeping for some of the day (naps) humans could conserve energy.
What is information consolidation theory?
REM sleep plays a vital role in memory retention and consolidation, removal of unwanted information and storage important data from memory. Sleep ensures the consolidation and sorting of important information into short and long term memory. This takes place during slow wave sleep (SWS - deep sleep).
What is sleep debt?
Accumulation of the difference between the amount of sleep that a person needs to function at an optimal level and the amount they actually have. For example, if a person needs 8 hours each night, but only get 7, they have 1 hour of sleep debt.
