Restoration Theory Flashcards
Who proposed this theory and when?
Oswald 1966
What did he propose as the purpose of sleep?
He proposed that sleep (especially REM sleep) helps to restore energy, repair cells, and allow growth. He also believed that sleep allows neurotransmitters to recharge and assists psychological recovery.
What does newborns’ sleep tell us in relation to this theory?
Newborns can sleep for 20 hours per day and over 50% of that sleep is REM. Rapid growth development occurs as soon as a baby is born, the increased ratio of REM sleep allows this growth to happen.
What do different ages and their sleep needs tell us in relation to this theory?
The younger a person the more sleep is needed, as we can see babies sleep for very long periods of time as they are growing and developing, however, people aged 65 and over only need roughly 7-8 hours of sleep which supports this theory, as they have already done all of their growing, they only need sleep in order to repair.
What does SWS 4 tell us?
There is a spike in the growth hormone in SWS 4, suggesting that sleep is mandatory in order for growth and repair.
What do the tests on rats tell us?
Burn injuries on rats take longer to heal when they are sleep deprived
What does Oswald tell us about stressed and depressed patients?
Stressed and depressed patients sleep for longer periods of time in comparison to a healthy person. This could explain why people report feeling much better once they have had a long sleep if they have been ill.
Weaknesses of the theory
Over simplistic? Why the need for all the different stages of sleep
Hobson (2005) Sleep is only for the brain, recovery can occur simply from resting
Strengths of the theory
Shapiro et al (1981)found support for the study in runners. Their sleep lasted on average 90 mins longer , in particular non-REM sleep was lengthened, rising from 25% - 45% suggesting that sleep in important to allow the body time to repair.
Adam & Oswald 1983, found that hospital patients who have had spinal operations or have taken drug overdoses engage in longer periods of REM sleep, supporting the idea that REM is necessary for repairing the brain other parts of the neural system.
