Sleep And Circadian Rhythm Flashcards
Why do we need sleep?
Sleep help us recover, remember, and grow
What is the average amount of sleep does each adult need?
7-9 hours of sleep
At what age do people sleep more and less?
Infants from 1-23 months sleep more and elders from 45 and older sleep less
What brain structures are involved with sleep?
The brain stem, located on the base of the brain, communicates with the hypothalamus to control transitions between wake and sleep
What psychological mechanism are responsible?
Circadian clock also known as the SCN (suprachiasmaitic nucleus)
What is the circadian rhythm?
Physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle in our body
Define Zeitgebers?
Environmental cues that retain the circadian cycle
How are physiological mechanism assessed?
Electroencephalogram (EEG) - reveals brainwaves
Electrooculogram (EOG) - reveals REM during sleep
Electro hog ram (EMG) - detects loss of activity in neck muscles during sleep stages
What are the four stages of sleep?
Stage 1- slower alpha waves; low voltage and high frequency
Stage 2- K complex (one large negative wave) and sleep spindles 12-14Hz waltz
Stage 3- Deep sleep and muscle relaxes (EEG); large and slow waves
Stage 4- Brain becomes more active, muscles are paralyzed; dreaming, and REM; delta waves are slow and large
______ is a hormone that the body produces naturally and is light dependence
Melatonin
_________ regulates the body’s circadian rhythm and releases hormones
Pineal gland
At what hours do we experience more REM?
On the 6-7th hour
How often does our ultradian rhythm cycle?
Every 90 minutes
What records brain waves, eye and leg movement during the study of sleep disorders?
Polysomnography
Circadian vs. Ultradian
Circadian runs on a 24 hour cycle while ultradian runs on a 90 minute cycle
What are the differences between young and old sleepers?
young sleepers sleep more and have more dreams while old sleepers wake up more often and have less dreams
