Sleep

Question 1

What is sleep?

Answer 1

State of unconsciousness from which the individual can be aroused by normal stimuli

Question 2

What is coma?

Answer 2

State of unconsciousness from which the individual cannot be aroused and doesn’t respond to stimuli

Question 3

What part of the brain does sleep originate from?

Answer 3

Pons (reticular formation)

Question 4

What other parts of the brain are involved in sleep?

Answer 4

Hypothalamus and it’s suprachiasmatic nuclei

Question 5

What neurotransmitter is released for wakefulness and from where?

Answer 5

Orexin (hypocretin), from the hypothalamus

Question 6

What hormones are known to be associated with sleep?

Answer 6

Seratonin

Melatonin

Question 7

How is the level of consciousness assessed in an awake person?

Answer 7

Behaviour, speech patterns and content, reading and writing

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Question 8

What EEG recordings are studied?

Answer 8

Amplitude

Frequency

Question 9

What are the main waves patterns that can be seen?

Answer 9

Alpha
Beta
Theta
Delta

Question 10

What is the common EEG of a person in a relaxed, awake state?

Answer 10

High frequency
High amplitude
Alpha waves

Question 11

What is the common EEG of a person who is alert and awake?

Answer 11

Even higher frequency
Low amplitude
Asynchronous waves (beta waves)

Question 12

How are theta waves characterised?

Answer 12

Low frequency

Amplitude can vary enormously

Question 13

How are delta waves characterised?

Answer 13

Low frequency

High amplitude

Question 14

How many stages of sleep are there?

Answer 14

5

Question 15

What happens as a person moves towards deep sleep?

Answer 15

Amplitude increases

Frequency decreases

Question 16

What is commonly found in sleep deprived subjects?

Answer 16

Cognitive function impairment
Physical performance impairment
Sluggishness
Irritability

Question 17

What functions does sleep support?

Answer 17

Neuronal plasticity 
Learning and memory 
Cognition 
Clearance of waste products from CNS 
Conservation of whole body energy

Question 18

How does sleep change over a lifetime?

Answer 18

Total sleep time decreases through childhood

Percentage of REM sleep decreases

Question 19

What is insomnia?

Answer 19

Chronic inability to obtain the necessary amount or quality of sleep to maintain adequate daytime behaviour