cortical states Flashcards
what is an ultradian and circadian cycle
ultradian: cycle shorter than one day
circadian: around 24h
types of changes that follow the circadian rhythm (3)
- physical changes
- mental changes
- behavioral changes
external cues used to distinguish night and day (2)
- daily routines (meals, social interactions)
- light and darkness
most important cues for circadian rhythm (2)
- light
- physical activity
how does light regulate circadian rhythm
sensors in retina signal changes to the brain (SCN)
what is the central/master clock
scn of the hypothalamus
how does physical activity regulate circadian rhythm
sends signals (increase in temperature and metabolism) to the peripheral clock
what is the peripheral clock
muscle tissue and other organs
how does light influence the synthesis of melatonin
photosensitive ganglion cells (melanopsin) sense light and project to scn; reach pineal gland than synthesizes melatonin
relationship bw light and melatonin
light inhibits release of melatonin
when is peak of melatonin and cortisol
melatonin: middle of night
cortisol: end of night/when wake up
what controls secretion of cortisol
scn and adrenal gland clock (central clock)
what role does cortisol play in internal clocks
plays part in synchronization of cell-autonomous clocks
cortisol secretion increases with (3)
- immune system response
- intense physical activity
- psychological and emotional stress
how does light influence mood
light takes different pathway than circadian rhythm regulation pathway to influence mood via NAc and mPFC
effects of sleep deprivation (4)
- impaired judgement
- impaired reaction times
- mood swings
- hallucinations
purposes of sleep (4)
- energy conservation
- avoid predators
- consolidation of memory
- clearance of brain metabolic waste
how does sleep help to conserve energy (2)
- replenish brain glycogen levels
- decreases metabolism
why would sleep help avoid predators
finding food and avoiding predators depends on visual information and at night, it is dark so take a break
why would sleep help consolidate memory (2)
- sleeping soon after learning increases recall
- sleep closes gate (thalamus) between STM and LTM stores
how does sleep help clear brain of metabolic waste
CSF can permeate brain during sleep and clear metabolic waste from brain
effect of closing eyes on brain waves and why
brain activity becomes synchronized because no more input from external cues (visual input)
stages of sleep
N1 -> N2 -> N3 -> R
stages in NREM sleep
N1, N2 and N3
brain waves in N1 stage
start showing lower frequency and higher amplitude
what is N1 stage
transition to sleep/drowsiness
brain waves in N2 stage
periodic bursts of activity - sleep spindles; lower frequency and higher amplitude than N1 phase
brain waves in N3 stage
slow-wave sleep (synchronization); decreased number of spindles -> delta waves
which sleep stage has delta waves
N3
brain waves in REM sleep
EEG similar to awake state