EEG, sleep and circadian rhythms Flashcards
Define sleep.
Stage of unconsciousness from which individual can be aroused by normal stimuli e.g. light, touch, sound.
->Predictable and cyclical
Define coma.
State of unconsciousness from which individual cannot be aroused and does not respond to stimuli.
What symptoms arise if someone is deprived of sleep?
-Impairment of cognitive function
-Impairment of physical performance
-Sluggishness
-Irritability
List some of the things that sleep supports/
- Neuronal plasticity
- Learning and memory
- Cognition
- Clearance of waste products from CNS
- Conservation of whole body energy
- Immune function
->suggested we sleep more when we are ill do to it helping immune function
What does neuronal plasticity allow?
Learning and memory.
New neural connections in brain forming
In which part of the sleep phase are we in our deepest sleep?
Early stages of sleep phase
When are new neuronal connections made?
Late phases of sleep
->early phase prunes back connections which have already been made
In which part of the sleep do we dream the most?
Late phases
Which area of the brain brings about sleep (as far as evidence suggests)?
Reticular formation of the brainstem
->known it occurs at some point below the pons
Name some molecules which are believed to contribute to sleep.
Delta sleep inducing peptides (DSIP)
Adenosine
Melatonin
What happens as adenosine levels build up during the day?
Feeling of sleepiness develops- known as sleep pressure
What antagonises adenosine receptors?
Caffeine
->why it keeps you awake
Where is melatonin produced?
Pineal gland
What is the pineal gland under the influece of?
Suprachiasmatic nuclei
Where is the suprachiasmatic nuclei found?
Hypothalamus
What does the SCN (suprachiasmatic nuclei) demonstrate?
24hr circadian rhythm
What does the SCN control the release of?
Melatonin
What are the inhibitory neurons in the SCN stimulated by?
Light
->therefore darkness removes inhibition and we get stimulation of pineal gland and melatonin release allowing us to sleep :)
What is orexin?
An excitatory neurotransmitter required for wakefullness
Where is oxerin released fron?
Hypothalamus
What inhibits orexin?
Melatonin
What does defective orexin signalling cause?
Narcolepsy-> individual will suddenly fall asleep, sometimes even when talking
Drugs that block the formation of serotonin (not a typo) have what kind of affect on sleep?
Disrupt sleep
During depression, a person can have lower levels of serotonin. How does his affect them?
Struggle to sleep
Therefore, which drugs are given to those with depression?
SSRI’s
->serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors
How can electrical activity in the brain be recorded?
Using EEG or electroencephalogram
How can the EEG waves be analysed?
By amplitude and frequency
In general, what happens to frequency with neuronal excitation?
Frequency increases
In general, what happens to amplitude with neuronal excitation?
Amplitude decreases
What is frequnxy?
Number of wave
What is amplitude?
Size of wave
In terms of sleep, the longer the wave..?
The deeper the level of unconsciousness
When will the frequency of waves be increased?
The more focused you are.
But awake means greater amplitude than being asleep.
What is abnormally fast EEG waves characteristic of?
Epilepsy
Name the four types of wave pattern seen
Alpha
Beta
Theta
Delta
What are alpha waves associated with?
Relaxed-awake state
What are beta waves associated with?
Alert awake state
What are theta waves associated with?
Early sleep