I&P Sleep Flashcards
Sleep Staircase
4 Stages of sleep
At some point of the night return back to stage 2 to get bursts of sleep called REM sleep then return to stage 4
This occurs in 90 minute cycles
How long is our circadian rhythm
Bunker study whose 25 hours
Core sleep
First 5 hours
Mostly Stage 3/4, only small proportions of REM
Optional Sleep
Next 2 hours
Mostly stages 1 & 2
Majority of REM Sleep
Sleep and foetus
Baby seems to spend most of time in REM sleep - fundamental to development
Age and sleep changes
Reduction in total sleep time and REM sleep with age
Later reduction in stages 3&4, most of this lost by age 40
Investigating sleep
Subjective sleep quality
Movements during sleep
EEG output
Dream characteristics and content
Features of dreams
Not exclusive to REM but 2x more likely and 6x more vivid
Usually intensely visual, but no taste, smell, pain
Insomnia Causes
1) Psychological (depression, anxiety)
2) Medical disorders (especially pain)
3) Social environment (alcohol drugs)
Affects 30% of the population!
Insomnia treatment
1) Hypnotic drugs
2) Sleep education
3) Sleep hygiene - make behavioural changes
4) Deal with tension/intrusive thoughts –> relaxation techniques and cognitive approaches
Narcolepsy
Sleep attacks - overwhelming sleepiness
Cataplexy - paralysis of voluntary muscles - REM sleep intrusion, conscious and eyes open but unable to move!
Vivid sleep onset dreams (hallucinations)
Randy Gardner
264 hours (11 days without sleep
Day 2 - difficulty focusing eyes
Day 5 - irritable, uncooperative, memory lapses
Day 9 - fragmented thoughts, blurred vision, major memory lapses
Priority to regain stage 3&4 sleep
Sleep deprivation
Reserve capacity for 1 night sleep
Mostly effects the cortical functions of the body - rest of the body relatively unaffected
Only 1/3 of sleep recovered, priority for stages 3 & 4
