EEG, sleep and circadian rhythms Flashcards

1
Q

Define sleep.

A

Stage of unconsciousness from which individual can be aroused by normal stimuli e.g. light, touch, sound.
->Predictable and cyclical

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1
Q

Define coma.

A

State of unconsciousness from which individual cannot be aroused and does not respond to stimuli.

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2
Q

What symptoms arise if someone is deprived of sleep?

A

-Impairment of cognitive function
-Impairment of physical performance
-Sluggishness
-Irritability

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3
Q

List some of the things that sleep supports/

A
  1. Neuronal plasticity
  2. Learning and memory
  3. Cognition
  4. Clearance of waste products from CNS
  5. Conservation of whole body energy
  6. Immune function

->suggested we sleep more when we are ill do to it helping immune function

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4
Q

What does neuronal plasticity allow?

A

Learning and memory.
New neural connections in brain forming

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5
Q

In which part of the sleep phase are we in our deepest sleep?

A

Early stages of sleep phase

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6
Q

When are new neuronal connections made?

A

Late phases of sleep

->early phase prunes back connections which have already been made

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7
Q

In which part of the sleep do we dream the most?

A

Late phases

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8
Q

Which area of the brain brings about sleep (as far as evidence suggests)?

A

Reticular formation of the brainstem

->known it occurs at some point below the pons

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9
Q

Name some molecules which are believed to contribute to sleep.

A

Delta sleep inducing peptides (DSIP)
Adenosine
Melatonin

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10
Q

What happens as adenosine levels build up during the day?

A

Feeling of sleepiness develops- known as sleep pressure

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11
Q

What antagonises adenosine receptors?

A

Caffeine

->why it keeps you awake

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12
Q

Where is melatonin produced?

A

Pineal gland

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13
Q

What is the pineal gland under the influece of?

A

Suprachiasmatic nuclei

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14
Q

Where is the suprachiasmatic nuclei found?

A

Hypothalamus

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15
Q

What does the SCN (suprachiasmatic nuclei) demonstrate?

A

24hr circadian rhythm

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16
Q

What does the SCN control the release of?

A

Melatonin

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17
Q

What are the inhibitory neurons in the SCN stimulated by?

A

Light

->therefore darkness removes inhibition and we get stimulation of pineal gland and melatonin release allowing us to sleep :)

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18
Q

What is orexin?

A

An excitatory neurotransmitter required for wakefullness

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19
Q

Where is oxerin released fron?

A

Hypothalamus

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20
Q

What inhibits orexin?

A

Melatonin

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21
Q

What does defective orexin signalling cause?

A

Narcolepsy-> individual will suddenly fall asleep, sometimes even when talking

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22
Q

Drugs that block the formation of serotonin (not a typo) have what kind of affect on sleep?

A

Disrupt sleep

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23
Q

During depression, a person can have lower levels of serotonin. How does his affect them?

A

Struggle to sleep

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24
Q

Therefore, which drugs are given to those with depression?

A

SSRI’s
->serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors

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25
Q

How can electrical activity in the brain be recorded?

A

Using EEG or electroencephalogram

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26
Q

How can the EEG waves be analysed?

A

By amplitude and frequency

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27
Q

In general, what happens to frequency with neuronal excitation?

A

Frequency increases

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28
Q

In general, what happens to amplitude with neuronal excitation?

A

Amplitude decreases

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29
Q

What is frequnxy?

A

Number of wave

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30
Q

What is amplitude?

A

Size of wave

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31
Q

In terms of sleep, the longer the wave..?

A

The deeper the level of unconsciousness

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32
Q

When will the frequency of waves be increased?

A

The more focused you are.
But awake means greater amplitude than being asleep.

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33
Q

What is abnormally fast EEG waves characteristic of?

A

Epilepsy

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34
Q

Name the four types of wave pattern seen

A

Alpha
Beta
Theta
Delta

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35
Q

What are alpha waves associated with?

A

Relaxed-awake state

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36
Q

What are beta waves associated with?

A

Alert awake state

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37
Q

What are theta waves associated with?

A

Early sleep

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38
Q

Wat are delta waves associated with?

A

Deep sleep

39
Q

Describe the amplitude and frequency for alpha waves.

A

High frequency
Medium amplitude

40
Q

Describe the amplitude and frequency for beta waves.

A

Very high frequency
Low amplitude

41
Q

Describe the amplitude and frequency for theta waves.

A

Low frequency
Amplitude varies

42
Q

Describe the amplitude and frequency for delta waves.

A

Very low frequency
High amplitude

43
Q

Why is there low amplitude seen in the beta waves when the person is in the awake-alert phase?

A

Low amplitude does not reflect low activity. Heightened alert state but as brain doing so many things at once, the opposing signals cancel each other out and are not seen on EEG.

44
Q

Sleep in cyclical and has five stages. The first stage can be called slow wave sleep. Describe slow wave sleep

A

Light sleep very early on in the cycle.
Easily aroused.

45
Q

Describe the amplitude and frequency seen in slow wave sleep.

A

High amplitude
Low frequency

46
Q

Which type of wave is seen in slow wave sleep?

A

Theta waves

47
Q

Describe the amplitude and frequency in stage 2 in which the eye movements stop.

A

Frequency slows further but shows bursts of rapid waves called sleep spindles.

48
Q

Describe the amplitude and frequency in stage three.

A

High amplitude
Very slow waves (low frequency) with a few short episodes of fast waves. However, spindle activity declines.

49
Q

Which type of waves are seen in EEG of stage three of sleep?

A

Delta

50
Q

Which type of fibres are seen in stage four of sleep?

A

Only delta fibres

51
Q

In which stages of sleep is it very hard to rouse people?

A

Stages 3 and 4- known as deep sleep

52
Q

In which stages does sleep walking/talking occur?

A

Stage 3/4

53
Q

What happens after stage 4 sleep?

A

Move back to stage three, then two before entering REM sleep

54
Q

What is REM sleep?

A

Rapid eye movement sleep

55
Q

When do dreams occur?

A

REM stage of sleep

56
Q

What % of sleep is REM sleep?

A

25%

57
Q

Describe the amplitude and frequency seen in REM sleep.

A

Low amplitude
High frequency

->eerily similar to waves seen when awake

58
Q

Therefore, the large amplitudes are associated with what?

A

Deepest stages of sleep

59
Q

The cycle of sleep is very predicable as the night goes on. Briefly expalin it.

A

Start with stage 1->2->3 to deep sleep, then back into 3 and 2, then REM then back down into deep sleep, back through 3 and 2, then REM, etc.

Look at graphs to fully get what I’m saying

60
Q

As time asleep increases, what happens to REM?

A

Time spent in REM also increases

61
Q

When does deep sleep occur?

A

First few hours of sleep, most restful type of sleep

62
Q

What happens to the body in deep sleep?

A

Decreased vascular tone, BP, respiratory and metabolic rate

->this is why there is a drop in body temperature while sleeping

63
Q

Name a part of the brain which is particular active during deep sleep- the slow wave sleep.

A

Hippocampus

64
Q

If the hippocampus is damaged, what happens?

A

Person unable to make new memories but keeps old memories.

65
Q

How often does REM sleep occur?

A

Every 90 mins during sleep, lasts for 5-30 min

66
Q

In REM sleep, there are rapid eye movements. There is inhibition of all other skeletal muscles due to what?

A

Inhibitory projections from the pons to the spinal cord

67
Q

Why is there inhibition of all other skeletal muscles during REM sleep?

A

Prevents people from acting out dreams which occur in REM stage of sleep

68
Q

Which types of pathways is REM sleep dependant on?

A

Cholinergic pathways within the reticular formation

69
Q

People taking anticholinesterases have increased time in which area of sleep?

A

REM sleep

70
Q

How much time will a premature infant spend in REM sleep?

A

80% of sleep

71
Q

How much time will a newborn infant spend in REM sleep?

A

50% of sleep

72
Q

How much time will adulthood spend in REM sleep?

A

25% of sleep

73
Q

How much time will an elderly person spend in REM sleep?

A

Very little, if any

74
Q

As older people spend less time in REM sleep, what could this affect?

A

Cognitive function
Memory

75
Q

How much sleep does an adult need a night?

A

8hrs

76
Q

What is insomnia?

A

Common sleep disorder
Chronic inability to obtain the necessary amount or quality of sleep required to maintain adequate day time behaviour

77
Q

It is important to distinguish between types of insomnia like:

A

-Chronic, primary insomnia
-Temporary, secondary insomnia

78
Q

What causes chronic primary insomnia?

A

Often no identifiable psychological or physical cause

79
Q

What cause temporary secondary insomnia?

A

Pain, bereavement, other crisis
Usually short lived

80
Q

Give some examples of behaviours which promote sleep.

A

Avoiding use of screens
Avoid caffeine
Avoid vigorous exercise late in evening

81
Q

When do nightmares occur?

A

REM sleep

82
Q

Nightmares have a strong visual component. What stops the nightmare?

A

Waking up

83
Q

When in sleep do night terrors occur?

A

Deep, delta sleep

84
Q

In which age range of children can it be common to see night terrors?

A

Age 3-8

85
Q

What may be seen in a child with night terrors?

A

Thrashing and screaming, open eyes, unable to recognise parents

86
Q

Do children remember night terrors when they wake up?

A

No

87
Q

Do people remember nightmares when they wake up?

A

Yes

88
Q

Somnambulism?

A

Sleep walking

89
Q

In which stage of sleep does somnambulism occur?

A

Non-REM sleep, mainly stage 4 sleep

90
Q

Describe what is seen when a person in sleep walkig.

A

Appear awake, eyes open, avoid objects, carry out reasonably complex tasks and can obey instructions

91
Q

Will people who sleepwalk remember in the morning?

A

No

92
Q

What happens in narcolepsy?

A

Individual enters directly into REM sleep with little walking

93
Q

When could narcolepsy be dangerous?

A

Driving etc. as fall asleep with no warning

94
Q
A