Sleep across the lifespan Flashcards
What happens to the amount of REM sleep across a lifespan?
It decreases significantly from infancy to adolescence, but remains relatively stable after that.
What happens to the amount of NREM sleep across the lifespan?
It decreases across the lifespan.
What happens to the amount of slow wave sleep across the lifespan?
It decreases; a person older than 90 will experience barely any
How many hours of sleep do newborns require and what percentage of this is REM?
16-18hrs, 50%
How many hours of sleep do one/two-year-olds require and what percentage of this is REM?
12-13hrs, 25-30% REM
How many hours of sleep do children require and what percentage of this is REM?
12-13hrs, 25-30% REM
How many hours of sleep do adults require and what percentage of this is REM?
7-8, 20%
How many hours are recommended for adolescents and how much do they usually get?
9, less than 8.
What type of sleep problems do teenagers typically experience?
Difficulties falling asleep and waking, and sleep deprivation
List some effects of sleep deprivation on an adolescent’s time at school.
- Concentration
- Motivation
- Mood swings
- Falling asleep in class
- Impacts upon STM
How can an adolescent’s difficulty sleeping be explained biologically?
They experience a sleep-wake cycle shift.
Define: sleep-wake cycle shift
A naturally occurring and hormonally induced pushing forward of the body clock 1-2 hours forward, making adolescent feel sleepy 1-2 hours later.
What causes the sleep-wake cycle shift?
The body clock is shifted 1-2 hours forward during adolescence. This means that melatonin (the hormone that makes us feel sleepy) is released 1-2 hours later, which makes us feel tired 1-2 hours later.
Define: delayed sleep phase onset
The time at which an adolescent generally falls asleep occurs 1-2 hours later than in childhood.
Define: sleep debt
Accumulated nightly sleep loss that needs to be made up.
