Sleep Flashcards
What are the two parts to summarizing research?
- including a statement that summarizes a study, research or meta-analysis
- Descriptive writing
Andre Tyler Iguodala
A professional basketball player who was placed in reserve due to struggling with a sleep disorder.
After deciding to get at least 8 hours of sleep everyday, his performance showed remarkable improvement.
How much sleep do elite athletes need?
Players extended their sleep from 8 hours to 10 hours a week, and this reflected in their performance significantly.
Prevalence of sleep problems
around 60% of students experience disrupted sleep on the standard sleep quality scale
Origin of sleep
Sleep is universal among every animal species, and has been around for at least 500 million years.
Why is sleep important?
It enables us to restore strength, and is also vital for good health
Circadian rhythm
Regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus- the internal clock ensures the right hormones are released in the body and at the right time ( allow us to wake up, feel hungry, digest food, and sleep at night)
What is the length of sleep-
wake circadian
rhythm?
24 hrs and 15 min
It can continue even in the absence of light (which is used to reset our internal clock)
What is the importance of sunlight in regulating sleep?
Our bodies and brain reset the internal clock using sunlight everyday. As soon as light hits our eyes, it hits the suprachiasmatic nucleus, a group of 20,000 cells- whose job is to reset and restart our internal clock.
Melatonin release
The start cycle begins when the suprachiasmatic nucleus releases the melatonin hormone, after dusk.(summer 9 p.m and 4.30 p.m in winter)
What is the function of melatonin
It signals the brain that it is time to sleep
Note; it only starts the sleep cycle but does not make us fall asleep, adenosine does.
Sleep pressure
since adenosine starts building up the moment we wake up, the longer we stay awake the more tired and sleepy we feel. This pressure is known as sleep pressure.
When does adenosine peak?
about 12- 16 hours of being awake
adenosine and the circadian rhythm can interact- leading to the “second wind”
When does melatonin peak ?
around 2 am- 4pm
Melatonin drop
Once light comes up, the brain shuts off the release of melatonin which signals that sleep is over and it’s time to wake up.
What are the two stages of sleep?
Non-rapid eye movement and rapid- eye movement.
Non-rapid eye movement
It accounts for 75-80% of our sleep
There are three stages in NREM;
1. stage N1
2. stage N2
3. stage N3
Stage N1
This is the lightest stage of the NREM sleep. There is drowsiness and slow-eye movement and one begins to relax. ( there is possibility of waking up)
Stage N2
NREM transition stage. There is light sleep and breathing, heart and blood pressure begin slowing down.
memory consolidation emerge
Stage N3
NREM deep sleep. Muscles relax, blood pressure is low, and breathing and heart rate are slow and regular. One enters into deep sleep. (nightmares may occur)
What is another name for stage 3 sleep?
slow wave sleep
Importance of deep sleep?
Builds the body’s immune system, allows the brain to increase thinking and creativity levels, and restores your body. (happens in the firts half of the night)
REM
This is the rapid-eye movement. This occurs at the end of a sleep-cycle. It accounts for 20-25% of our sleep.
There is high heart-beat rate, increased blood pressure, rapid and irregular breathing, and also reduced muscle tone.
How many stages of sleep are in the REM?
one