3-4. Sleep architecture and neuro Flashcards
potential functions of sleep spindles
- memory consolidation (when you lose memory often lose sleep spindles)
- neuroplasticity
what is k complex doing
deciding wheather to wake you up or not
what are the potential functions of slow waves
- memory consolidation
- synaptic homeostasis: after a whole day you’re over-saturated. You’ve made all these connections. Now you need to decide which connections to strengthen and which one to remove.
- restorative function
- reactivity
the 2 phases of CAP
phase A: increase arousal
phase B: lower brain activity and represents more stable sleep
what could explain why someone feels terrible after a night of sleep even if everything looks fine on the hypnogram
They might have a lot of intrusion of arousal markers. They are asleep, but their sleep is filled with hypervigilance arousal markers.
If the frequency of CAP cycles is abnormally high, it suggests frequent shifts between stable sleep (Phase B) and more aroused, unstable sleep (Phase A). This often results in fragmented sleep, making it harder for the sleeper to reach deeper stages of NREM sleep
So what determines when you get sleepy vs when you can’t sleep?
circadian rhythm and homeostasis pressure
what are examples of neurochemicals that have high discharge in arousal AND high discharge in REM sleep
acetylcholine, dopamine, glutamate
what does orexin do in sleep?
promote wakefulness and stabilize the transitions between sleep and wake states.
what happens if one has a lack of orexin
narcolepsy, a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden, uncontrollable sleep episodes
+ cataplexy (sudden muscle weakness)
what are some examples of neurochemicals that have high discharge in wake ONLY
serotonine, norepinephrine, histamine, orexin
