Sleep Flashcards
What are brain rhythms?
Distinct patterns of neuronal activity that are associated with specific behaviours, arousal levels and sleep state
What does EEG stand for?
Electroencephalogram
What is an EEG?
Measurement of electrical activity generated by the brain and recorded through the scalp
What does carrying out an EEG involve?
Placing non-invasive electrodes at standard positions on the head
How are the EEG electrodes labelled?
Letter corresponds to the lobe of the brain
Even numbers on the right and odd numbers on the left
What are EEGs primarily used to help?
Diagnose neurological disorders (epilepsy)
What do EEGs measure?
The combined activity of a large number of similarly orientated neurons
What does an EEG reflect?
Summed post-synaptic activity of large cell ensembles
What does the amplitude of an EEG signal depend on?
How synchronous the activity of a group of cells is
What are high frequency low amplitude EEGs associated with?
Alertness and waking
What are low frequency high amplitude EEGs associated with?
Non-dreaming sleep
What happens if the same amount of excitation occurs at irregular intervals?
Small summed signal
What do synaptic connections between excitatory and inhibitory thalamic neurons do?
Force each individual neuron to conform to the rhythm of the group
How are coordinated rhythms passed to the cerebral cortex?
Thalamocortical axons
What do excitatory and inhibitory interconnections of neurons result in?
A coordinated synchronous pattern of activity
What is sleep?
A readily reversible state of reduced responsiveness to, and interaction with, the environment
What are the two distinct states of sleep?
REM and non-REM
What is non-REM sleep?
Body capable of involuntary movement, rarely accompanied by vivid, detailed dreams
What is REM sleep?
Body immobilised, accompanied by vivid, detailed dreams
What are the physiological states in non-REM sleep?
Decreased temp and brain energy consumption, massively decreased heart rate and blood pressure