sleep Flashcards
what is sleep
- altered form of consciousness
- natural loss of consciousness
features of sleep
- periodic
- rapidly reversible
- distinct from coma, hibernation, anesthesia
stages of sleep
- stage 1-3
- stage 4 (slow wave sleep)
- REM sleep
EEG of awake state
- alpha and beta waves
- high frequency: lots of action potentials/active cortex
- low amplitude: neurons firing out of sync
EEG of stage 1 sleep
- theta activity
- transition of wakefulness to sleep
- EMG: muscles still active
- EOG: gentle eye movements
EEG of stage 2 sleep
spindles: emerge transitioning from light sleep to deeper sleep
EEG of stage 3 sleep
- delta activity appears
- slow wave sleep
EEG of stage 4 sleep
- continuous delta waves
- slow wave sleep
delta activity
- low frequency: few action potentials
- high amplitude: neurons firing in sync
- indicative of quality of sleep and cognitive function next day
EEG of REM sleep
- rapid EEG: brain activity forcing muscles to relax
- EOG: rapid eye movements
- EMG: muscles relaxed
characteristics of stage 1 sleep
- eyes open and close
- person falls asleep
characteristics of stage 2 sleep
sleep deeper
characteristics of stage 3 sleep
- sleep even deeper
- less responsive to stimuli
characteristics of stage 4 sleep
- very deep sleep
- reached within one hour
characteristics of REM sleep
- irregular heartbeat
- shallow breathing
- penile erection or vaginal secretion
- vivid dreams
characteristics of slow wave sleep
- slow EEG waves
- lack of muscle paralysis
- slow or absent eye movements
- lack of genital activity
- banal dreams
sleep deprivation
- aka total sleep deprivation
- remove the ability for animal/human to sleep for a given amount of time
circadian rhythm
- internal biological clock of 24 hour cycle of day and night
- body temperature rises and drops- peak during the day
- altered by age and experience
- changes in energy level, mood, and efficiency throughout the day
- controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
- just above the optic nerve
- bright morning light activates light-sensitive proteins that trigger the SCN
- decreased melatonin production in the morning and increased production in the evening (low light)
- damaged: become “free-running”
why do we sleep
- protective role in human evolution
- conserves energy
- restore and repair damaged neurons
- promotes creative problem solving
- pituitary gland secretes growth hormone for muscle development (deep sleep)
- promote function of glymphatic system to clear wastes
sleep restriction
people are allowed to sleep but it is restricted to a specific amount of time
insomnia
inability to start of maintain sleep over at least three nights
sleep apnea
cannot sleep and breathe at the same time
narcolepsy
difficulty maintaining wakefulness