Role Of The Brain In Sleep Flashcards
What three things influence sleep
Endogenous pacemaker
Exogenous pacemakers
Endogenous sleep regulating substances
What is the endogenous pacemaker
The internal biological clock
What are exogenous pacemakers
External environmental factors such as light
What are endogenous sleep regulating substances
Hormones and substances such as adenosine
What are the two key structures in the brain that control our biological rhythms
SCN
Pineal gland
Which part if the brain is the SCN located
Hypothalamus
What does our SCN do
It regulates the sleep wake cycle
Who found evidence for an endogenous pacemaker
Siffre (1962)
Where does the SCN send signals to via nerves daily
Pineal gland
What dies the pineal gland do
Secretes melatonin after receiving a signal from the SCN
What is melatonin
A hormone that is released by the pineal gland to induce sleep
How does light affect our sleep
The retina of the eye is connected to the SCN via a nerve pathway because of this light affects both the SCN and the pineal gland
What affects melatonin
Light reduces melatonin production
Darkness increases melatonin production
When does melatonin peak
Middle of the night
What is the german word for an exogenous pacemakers
Zeitgeber
What are examples of zeitgebers
Light
Drugs
Temperature
Social interaction
Exercise
Eating/drinking patterns
What is the main endogenous sleep regulating substance
Adenosine
How does adenosine work
During the day it builds in our cerebrospinal fluid which increases the pressure to sleep
It inhibits neurotransmitters associated with wakefulness
How dies adenosine build
By doing tasks throughout the day
What happens to adenosine after we sleep
It is replaced by glycogen giving us energy
Evidence for adenosine
Caffeine works by blocking receptors of adenosine
Some sleeping pills work by boosting adenosine levels
What type of light is the worst for our SCN
Blue light as it confuses the SCN unto thinking its day
